Finding a Balance

If your the sort of person who takes time out of your weekly schedule to read a blog about how to lift heavier things or move faster in a straight line you are probably quite outcome driven or task orientated.

As such you are likely to be the sort of person who expends too much energy in one particular aspect of their life.  Be it spending too much of your spare time in the gym, spending too much time at the office or obsessing over your diet you've probably fallen into the too much of one thing trap at some point in your life.

We have often heard the term "everything in moderation" banded about like it is some cure all for what ails the soul be it in diet or exercise, work or social life this term is deemed apply.  To speak in absolutes however is to take the easy route mantra and terms are for those who want to dodge the hard questions, the real question is...

How do we achieve moderation?

This on the face of it seem a senile or obtuse question.  But if this where so then the philosophy or teaching of spiritual groups such as Buddhist teachers or "life coaches" would find little or no resonance.  This is clearly not the case with the self help industry worth an annual sum of $9,000,000,000 in the US alone.

In my own opinion however there is little or no need to look outside of your own life to find fulfilment or a "balance".  It can be found in your own day to day existence however you may need to look at things in a different way.

• Push yourself beyond your comfort zone in your professional / academic / athletic life when there is a measure of accountability or success then to do the same is not good enough.  To be happy with yourself and your achievements you should consistently seek to do better or at least to try new ideas.  If you keep doing the same thing or don't get challenged in this aspect of your life then you will get stuck in a rut this will have a negative cascade into the other aspects of your life.

• Never stop learning one of the greatest joys in my life comes from reading, especially outside of my own field of study.  My own favourite niche is popular science although I have recently began to meander into economics and philosophy.  Whilst it is good to know a lot about a little in your professional life, for your development as a more rounded mind and human being it is better to know a little about a lot.       

• Be honest in your social life whilst it might not always be possible to be upfront and honest in your professional life it is the best policy I have found to be genuine in your social life.  Too many people suffer from the two fold burden keeping up an appearance or charade not only in their professional life but also in their social life.  If you can't be honest amongst friends or family then you might want to look at the health of your relationships or the company with which you keep.

• Find Fulfilment in what you do be it in your work, your hobby or your family you need to find fulfilment somewhere in your life.  Some people find solace in religion or personal gain others find it through their own actions.  If you hate your job / relationship / house / team / gym what ever it is do something about it!  If you only have your own inaction to blame for your lack of fulfilment in life then you have nothing to complain about.  Do the best you can with the factors that you control, if life should conspire a different outcome then so be it.     

• Above all be honest with yourself - for me this is the best philosophy.  If I want to spend my day off in my pants that's my propagative the more in tune you are with your own wants and needs the better you will be able to service them.  Whilst I would never advocate this as a free license to live a hedonistic and self serving life for some that is their own route to happiness. 

      

Whilst it may be somewhat of an oxymoron to look externally for the cure to your own personal woes I hope my ruminations have provided some food for thought.

Marc