We assume that growth is always good. And it often is, but unbalanced growth can be problematic — in order for growth to be sustainable, it needs to be balanced.
If you build a muscle disproportionate to others, it will inevitably lead to atrophy or injury elsewhere. Growing a healthy body has many integrated parts: muscles, tendons, bones, even a proportionate amount of body fat. These require exercise, a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep and rest. Each element is essential and only healthy in roughly balanced proportion. If any one part becomes heavily over-emphasized, that growth can cause unhealth in the other parts and the whole. All must come together in balance for true thriving.
The same is true for the rest of our lives.
We all have areas of our life on which we have disproportionately placed emphasis. Oftentimes these are good things, which can make it hard to see the shadows they cast in other areas of our lives.
A person for example who has focused heavily on growing their capacity for independence, is likely to struggle with a healthy degree of dependence on others which would lead to deeper flourishing. A person who places their attention fully on serving others may struggle to serve their own needs in a way that would allow them to serve from a place of health and contentment. A person who values high ideals and creative expression may struggle to firm up more practical matters and establish necessary support structures.
The key is to find a balance. The middle way is not only the most sustainable; in many cases, it is the only way we'll come to the sense of fullness we desire.
Take some time to reflect on the areas of your life that you've optimized for a long period of time. What have you sub-optimized as a result? What actions might you be able to take to bring things back to a place of balance, so you can step into a deeper sense of personal flourishing?
All the best,
Steven Lawson
“All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”
- Blaise Pascal
GOING DEEPER
How to Maintain Balance in a Relationship: 10 Practical Ways - Marriage.com
If you've been in a relationship before, you can almost certainly relate to that inital feeling where everything is perfect and you can't imagine any clouds existing on the horizon. But as you likely also know, that's never the case and inevitably issues will arise, arguments will be had, and feelings will be hurt. This doesn't necessarily mean the two of you are wrong for each other, however it is an indicator that some things need to be addressed. If you find yourself constantly lost at this stage, here are 10 tips from Marriage.com to help the two of you re-find that balance. LINK
Balancing Growth and Stability: Why Your Team Needs People On Both Steep and Gradual Growth Trajectories - Medium
It seems logical that if you own or are part of a business, then the natural direction that you'd like to take that business is one of radical growth. This, however, is not always the case, and as explained in this excerpt from Kim Scott's book Just Work: How To Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Create a Kick-Ass Culture of Inclusion can often times backfire, causing some people on your team to radically decrease their productivity on a day-to-day basis. LINK
How to Balance Your Career and Relationship - Growing Self
While the previous two reading suggestions deal with finding balance in your relationship life and your work life, you also need to make sure you're maintaining balance between your relationship and work life. With that in mind, consider these suggestions on how to do just that and make sure one isn't take unnecessary prominence over the other. LINK
Featured Art: And sometimes the nights last for months..., Maria Guia Pimpão (2012)
