While in college I had a professor who taught religion and philosophy. There were many times that students would ask him a question that they thought had to be answered with either a yes or no. However, he almost always came back with, “Well, yes and no.” It came to be a running joke in our classes.
But, as I have gotten older, I see how there are so many things for which this is true.
We like to have our sound bite philosophies and memes that sum things up in an “either/or” manner. But life seldom works that way. Let me illustrate what I am talking about.
I am told that I cannot take care of (love) others if I do not take care of myself. But on the flip side I am told that I cannot truly take care of (love) myself if I am not concerned about helping others. Which is the truth?
In fact, both are. Yes, I do need to care for myself. If all I ever do is think of others and give all my time, energy, and resources for the aid of other people, then I will be a burned out shell who has eventually depleted my ability to help anyone. Even the largest lake will dry up if
there is no replenishing supply of water flowing into it.
On the other hand, if I am only concerned about caring for myself, but have no real interest in helping others unless it benefits me, then I am nothing more than a parasitic member of society. From this perspective I am the large lake that has no outlet. I become stagnate.
The underlying principle behind this example is true in the majority of life maxims. Each seeming opposite holds a kernel of truth that needs to be taken into account and balanced as we apply it to our lives.
We ask the question, “Is this maxim, meme, principle true?” Usually, the correct answer is, “Well, yes and no.” Find both of these things, apply them to your life, and find balance.
Think about it.
You are loved. Peace.
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