One truth about life that I have discovered is that almost everything requires balance. Whether in one’s personal life, in relationships with others, in the management of society, or in nature itself, balance and equilibrium are essential for things to flourish and remain healthy. Of course, there are exceptions, and the definition of balance can vary depending on each individual’s circumstances and goals.
It is no coincidence that several religions and faiths encourage people to live in balance. The Buddha taught the Middle Path, the way of avoiding extremes. Judaism has the teaching of the Golden Mean, the virtue of choosing the middle ground between two extremes. Confucius emphasized Zhong Yong, the doctrine of moderation and harmony. More importantly, if you reflect on your own life, your relationships, and the society around you, you will find—as I did—that balance is needed in almost every aspect of human existence.
In personal life, the absence of exercise can lead to obesity and other health problems, while exercising too much or too strenuously can cause injuries. If you work too little and rest too much, you may struggle to succeed in career or finances due to laziness. But if you work excessively and neglect rest, you risk damaging your physical and mental health, along with your relationships. Technology use also requires balance. Excessive use leads to addiction, screen fatigue, and dulling of the mind, as AI begins to think and act on your behalf. On the other hand, rejecting modern technology completely can slow your work, reduce efficiency, and make it harder to connect and collaborate with others. Even self-perception needs balance. Being overly harsh or critical toward yourself can damage your confidence and leave you depressed, while constant self-praise and believing you are better than others can make you self-centered, blind to your flaws, and resistant to growth. Besides, most people naturally avoid narcissists.
In relationships and society, balance is equally important for peaceful coexistence. Good parents and teachers know that giving children too much freedom allows them to grow spoiled, undisciplined, and entitled, which harms their future. But being too strict, harsh, or punishing stifles motivation, lowers confidence, and may even cause rebellion. In relationships, a lack of trust breeds suspicion and prevents peace, while blind trust leaves one vulnerable to betrayal. Giving too much of yourself may lead to exhaustion and resentment, while taking too much without giving back breeds selfishness and dependency. Communication, too, must be balanced: speaking too bluntly can hurt, but avoiding honesty or speaking too indirectly creates misunderstanding. At a social level, a culture of extreme individualism may weaken unity and leave people isolated, while excessive collectivism can suppress innovation and personal freedom, as individuals feel compelled to live only for society rather than as themselves.
Even in nature, balance is everywhere. Day follows night; the tides rise and fall. Too much rain brings floods, too little brings drought; balanced weather allows life to thrive in abundance. In the animal kingdom, too many predators may wipe out prey populations, eventually starving themselves. Too few predators, however, causes prey to multiply unchecked, exhausting food sources. Our own bodies also reflect this need for equilibrium—whether in temperature regulation, the oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange, or the delicate balance of microbes in our gut.
There are, however, exceptions. Some things should never be balanced. For example, when striving to keep an organization, system, or society free of corruption, the goal must be 100%. No benefit comes from balancing corruption with honesty. Furthermore, balance looks different for different individuals. An Olympic athlete or Navy SEAL must train far more rigorously than average people, yet it is not “extreme” for them because their circumstances require it. A monk or priest who eats one meal a day, sleeps on a hard bed, and avoids worldly pleasures might seem extreme to most people, yet for them it is the proper discipline for their spiritual journey. Each person must discover their own point of balance.
In my opinion, maintaining balance and walking the middle way is not easy, but it is worth striving for. It will always bring benefits—to our lives, our relationships, and humanity as a whole. As the saying goes: “The river that overflows destroys; the river that dries up leaves barren land; but the river that flows steadily nourishes life.”
Written by Me: Edited by Echo
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