Staying Upright on Life’s Balance Beam

We know doing anything to its extreme usually includes a washout or eventual dead end. Too much anxiety, and we burn out. Too much unbridled positivity, and we lose touch with objectivity. There is some type of continuum between one and the other, and we’re constantly on the teeter totter, trying to find a reasonable balance.

For me, finding that balance requires never ending attention, and overall it's quite gratifying. When I have decent footing, I’m neither in ghastly gloom or goofy giddiness. Instead, I’m mostly even keeled, sprinkling in clumsiness on either end, just because I’m human and simply vulnerable to the vibrations that can cause imbalance. I do, however, relish the peace I feel from seeking equanimity and the rhythm of equilibrium.

I think the same concept applies in helping organizations build great cultures. Sitting on negativity and cynicism breeds frustration and even hostility. Languishing in unfounded aspiration usually has the same outcome.

The best cultures thrive because they find balance and equilibrium in continuously pursuing excellence and progress. They also genuinely honor the humanity of the people that work and serve others. Yes they have measures, metrics, milestones and signposts. However, happiness by itself (as well as profit) is not the goal. It is an outcome.

As noted in the attached article, the personal relentless pursuit of happiness has confounded philosophers and scholars since recorded time. The pursuit of anger, revenge and hate, ironically flames out in a similar culdesac of emptiness.

Perhaps I’m hopelessly simplifying? However, the pursuit of self acceptance in the spirit of advancing ourselves in work and life), through contributing to others, is fully abundant, has total scalability and is evergreen. We get the opportunity to achieve a little progress in this regard everyday, as we balance on life’s beam. Yes, sometimes life and work just sucks and other times everything seems in joyful overflow. Yet, the act of finding balance in the middle, while not necessarily the path to happiness or profit, results in the well-being from embracing imperfection and staying upright. I will gladly take that outcome every day.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: Perhaps we’ve confused the definition of happiness with euphoria. Through the veneer of endless filters, we see a lot of selected reality, and can easily fall into rabbit holes of comparison. Happiness should just be a sense of comfort and the capability to solve the challenging puzzles we’ll encounter in work and life.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Staying Upright on Life’s Balance Beam

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