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- KB59 - Somewhere in the middle
Join me live in Leicester on March 30th for an extraordinary day at Mindset with Muscle Live.
Dive deep into this immersive journey as we chart our goals and embark on an afternoon dedicated to personal development and growth.
Expect to transform through our Yoga Flow, engage in a soul-stirring Breathwork session, and challenge yourself with the exhilarating Ice Bath challenge.
MINDSET
Somewhere in the middle…
In a world that often feels like a constant battle between two extremes, finding a middle ground can be like choosing between tea and coffee.
Both are great, but sometimes, isn't a well-timed cup of coffee just what we need?
This journey for balance got me thinking about some old wisdom from philosophy and classic tales.
It's amazing how the ideas of Aristotle, The Kybalion's teachings, and C.S. Lewis's thoughts can shine a light on the path to finding that sweet spot in life.
Aristotle talked about “the golden mean” a long time ago.
He said living a good life is about finding the middle ground between doing too much and not doing enough. He believed that being virtuous means not going to extremes.
“Moral behaviour is the mean between two extremes - at one end is excess, at the other deficiency. Find a moderate position between those two extremes, and you will be acting morally.”
This old advice feels like a gentle push towards being reasonable and moderate, reminding us that often, the best way to live isn't at either end of the spectrum but somewhere in between.
Then, there's this book I read ages ago, The Kybalion, which talks about the Principle of Polarity.
“Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.”
It basically says everything has two sides, like two sides of a coin.
This idea helps us understand that what seems like opposite ends are actually just different ways of looking at the same thing.
This is an excellent thing to remember in today's world, where everyone has an opinion, especially online.
It shows us that debates, like whether to drink alcohol or not, are really about finding what works best for each of us and respecting our choices and circumstances.
C.S. Lewis, a brilliant writer, warned us about seeing things in black and white.
He said it's okay to enjoy life or to say no to things, but the moment we start thinking our way is the only right way, we've lost the plot.
He also talked about knowing our limits and thinking about how our choices affect others.
Living this way means we're not just looking after ourselves but also making the world a bit better for everyone.
“An individual may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons—marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.”
“To abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them”
By taking the advice of Aristotle, The Kybalion, and C.S. Lewis, we learn that life is about finding balance, understanding that there's more than one way to look at things, and being kind and thoughtful in our choices.
This doesn't just improve our lives; it improves our communities, making the world more understanding and caring.
So, as we enjoy our tea (or coffee if you prefer), here's to finding that balance with some help from the wisdom of the past.
Here’s to living life somewhere in the middle.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Knowledge Bomb Newsletter.
See you next week for another Installment.
Jay Alderton
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