Dear Friend,
We all agree that balance is important, but each of us has a preferred way to describe it, for instance: work/leisure balance ; giving to other people without completely neglecting yourself, or being active in the world whilst having enough time for solitude and reflection.
Balance is not easy to achieve, and even once we do, it doesn’t seem to satisfy us for long; it appears we crave action, not stagnation- just like Albert says:
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
– Albert Einstein
Moreover, we need to feel we are ascending somehow, not just moving:
“Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward”.
-Maxwell Maltz
In our quest for balance, we are most affected by other people, who could have either uplifting or damaging effect on us; or, quite often, both.
“People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person, or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die”.
-Plato
In case it all sounds complex, its because it truly is! Every one of us is affected by a number of people we interact with; we then bring the pertinent happiness or misery into interactions with other people/the very same people. Additionally, what is happening on next levels (country/ ecosystem/ planet), has an effect on everyone.
We could thus consider that we all exist in a gigantic “ mixing pot”, where individual balance is only achievable in the context of collective balance; is this what the great philosopher meant, when he was referring to a higher power?
“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man”.
-Euripides
But just because the forces are great, it doesn’t mean that one is powerless; rather, one’s perspective might need change.
“The deepest insight does not remove us from life, but returns us to it with a different consciousness”.
-Cagla Meydan
Lastly, what does this all mean in a context of a ” simple life “?
I wonder if the answer might be: live according to your unique nature, but be prepared to adjust a little in order to reach harmony with others. And mind you do it every day, and every minute! for everyone is always changing, including you 🙂
After all, such dynamic harmony is exactly what we observe in nature: from the planets of Solar system to the family of ants, to give just 2 examples.