virgin islands scene

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
-- Epictetus
 

 

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Middle ground

Just because it’s not a perfect experience doesn’t mean it’s a bad experience. Just because people do not completely agree with you doesn’t mean they hate you.

Most situations are not all one way in a particular dimension or all the opposite way. A great portion of life is lived in the middle ground.

Certainly extremes do exist. Yet it’s likely at most times that what you’re experiencing is not one of them.

When you make a couple of serious mistakes, it can feel like you’re unable to do anything right. But that’s not even remotely true, because the vast majority of your actions are successful at creating the results you intend.

In the same way, if you chalk up a few major wins, that can make you feel infallible. Yet when you give in to that feeling and assume you cannot lose, you’re setting yourself up for reckless overconfidence and disappointing results.

Instead, make the assumption that whatever you’re experiencing falls somewhere in the middle, and that you can move in a positive direction from wherever you are. See the problems for what they are, find the good that’s certainly there, and navigate your way forward no matter what.

— Ralph Marston

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