The Principle of Balance

We all want to be extraordinary people, right? Obviously, most of us aren't. That would defy the definition. This also implies that most people don't know what it takes (or, if you want to be pessimistic, don't have what it takes, which I disagree with) to be extraordinary. What is it that makes one extraordinary? Is it excellence in a particular area of life? I think so! (But, as you will see, I'm probably wrong.) There are, as previously mentioned, different areas in life: areas such as mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual, for instance. Now, briefly leaving this topic to touch on another, there exists a stereotype of the "tortured artist" (or genius). Get my point? Hmmm?

OK, OK! Even though MOST of you get it (don't you?), I'll explain it to the FEW who DON'T. The fact is, these tortured souls just aren't happy, despite their amazing abilities (or possibly BECAUSE of them?). What? Am I implying something absurdly paradoxical? Probably. Perhaps it would make more sense to look at it this way: these people have neglected other important areas of their lives to devote more to the great things they accomplished.

But it would be unfair, dishonest, and probably even harmful (especially to my argument) not to point out that this is only a stereotype and is certainly not always the case. There ARE a lot of great minds that belong to balanced, happy people; that have accomplished just as much as (if not, in fact, MORE THAN) their imbalanced counterparts. I would hope that this is the case more often than not, and that the stereotype (as stereotypes can easily be) is one of the more inaccurate ones. It's kind of difficult to tell just how balanced people are, especially after they're dead.

Anyway, if you still don't get it (probably since I didn't state it clearly), my theory is that if you try to improve all the different areas of your life, in a balanced effort (as opposed to focusing completely on one area or skill), you will improve more quickly, be more efficient, and accomplish more.

THE END

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