Balance and Discernment

Think about it. Extremes are safe places. Having an extreme opinion or stance on any issue is in a sense advantageous, because the opposite is defined and unambiguous. For example, if I am a staunch leftist, I know my adversaries and they know me, and we fully comprehend each other's views, even if we strongly disagree with each other. In addition, it can be a strategically sound vantage position from a negotiation perspective (as a saying goes... "say no, then negotiate").

My second observation is that with the deluge of information bombarding our senses every millisecond from a multitude of sources, for example, the internet, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, TV, smartphones, email, newspapers etc., we are living in an age of "multithink", trying to process multiple thought triggers all at once. We often get trapped in the dilemmas of simultaneous multi-level parallel decision-making, and sometimes we feel paralyzed as a result. My innocent human brain doesn't seem to do a very effective job of multi-directional thought processing yet. People have often told me about the merits of "parallel-processing" and "multitasking" , and I am still struggling to come to terms with these ideas.

After reflecting a lot on the two situations above, I am leaning towards a premise that two highly important qualities to develop in life are "Balance" and "Discernment". 

Between two extremes in any situation, a question to be asked could be : what is the "sweet-spot" and where does it lie ? Finding the right balance is undoubtedly difficult and uncomfortable indeed, but nevertheless essential in many situations. The balancing spot is open to attack from either extreme, and it may require the dexterity of a trapeze artist or the savvy tact of a suave diplomat to navigate the inherent tension in a situation. Balance maybe underrated, but essential, because extremes can be harmful, if not lethal, in many situations. 

The second question to be asked, relates to discernment : what is most important now? Alternatively, one can ask  :what is more important than anything else now, that will positively impact the future? These questions help to focus our energies to identify our top priorities and minimize distracting elements of lesser value. Choices have consequences. Hence making the right choice in a situation becomes crucial. The ability to discern the importance of a situation and the issues therein could become a vital skill to develop.

How effective is our education system in building these two abilities, which set the foundation for our future generations? 

Food for thought....