Ru

FINDING INNER

BALANCE

Due to this practice you will discover your strengths and weaknesses, as well as you will learn
how to combine these opposites and come to balance in your life.
Before you start practicing, take a notebook, divide the page into two columns.
In the first one write down your strengths, in the second one — your weaknesses.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Let’s consider examples of weak points of a person that are often perceived as shortcomings,
but with the right approach can become your strength:
1
Lack of flexibility
It manifests itself in the form of persistence, confidence in their beliefs and methods.
Sounds like a flaw, but it can also be a sign of strong will and resilience.
2
Self-criticism
Adequate criticism encourages your drive for self-improvement and helps maintain high standards without stopping at what has been achieved.
3
Impulsiveness
Impulsive people act quickly and decisively.
This is useful in situations that require immediate response or creativity.
4
Timidity
Often presented in people prone to self-analysis and inner concentration.
Such people have the ability to deep understanding and empathy.
5
Vanity
It is manifested as confidence in oneself and one’s abilities.
This trait helps a person to defend their beliefs and achieve the goals.

DON’T GET RID OF YOUR WEAK POINTS

  • First, the internal struggle takes away strength. Your energy goes to suppression and futile attempts to hide from yourself and others your feelings and thoughts.
  • Second, your self-esteem suffers because of that, the state of confidence weakens and reduces greatly.
  • Third, internal rejection leads to external conflicts. You can also lose control over your behavior.
The traits that we do not accept and consider our weaknesses have a positive side.
It’s necessary to learn to understand and to manage these traits so that they work for you.

THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPLEMENTARITY

The principle of complementarity is the key concept of inner balance and harmony. The opposite qualities of a person can not only coexist, but also complement each other, creating a more balanced
and holistic expression.

Opposites serve as a balancing factor.
For example, excessive self-criticism can be balanced by self-acceptance and ability of letting go the situations, meanwhile the impulsiveness can be balanced by awareness and tranquility.
It is unlikely that a person can easily get rid of his weak point, even if he understands that it affects his development negatively.
We can say to our friend: «Kevin, you shouldn’t be so timid and self-critical. It’s better to get rid of these traits».

Kevin will probably response: «I understand this, but I don’t know how».
To start, let’s define the antonyms of timidity and self-criticism:
1
The antonym of timidity is courage or openness.
2
The antonym of self-criticism is self-confidence.
And here is the important point: if we combine timidity and courage, we will see an extremely delicate Kevin — not too shy, but not 100% open. The result is a new quality.

This is an example of the principle of complementarity — when weak points are transformed into strengths of a person due to their awareness.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNIFICATION
AND ADOPTION OF INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS

  • Step 1: Define the opposite qualities
    • Write two lists in your notebook: one for your strengths, another for your weaknesses. Include in them qualities that you consider to be opposite or conflicting.
    • Analysis of the connections: determine the influence of opposite qualities on each other. For example, your propensity to detail analysis can lead to indecision.
  • Step 2: Acceptance and understanding
    • Conscious acceptance: admit that each of your qualities has its own meaning and place in your personality. Even undesirable traits can serve a certain purpose.
    • Reflection: write down how and why these opposite qualities are manifested in your life. This will help you to better understand their origin and functions.
  • Step 3: Work on balance
    • Creation of balance: develop strategies to balance out the opposite qualities. For example, if you are prone to perfectionism, set realistic deadlines for the completion of tasks.
    • Mindfulness practice: practice mindfulness regularly to better understand when and how your opposite qualities are manifested. Meditation can help you with this.
  • Step 4: Integration and development
    • Integration of qualities: use your opposite qualities together to achieve better results. For example, use your creativity to find new approaches to routine tasks.
    • Personal growth: use the understanding of your opposite qualities as an opportunity for personal growth. Working on yourself in this direction leads to a more harmonious and satisfied life.

LET’S US SUMMARIZE

It is important to remember that every aspect of our personality has its own meaning. Accepting
and combining the opposite traits not only enriches us internally, but also allows us to be more holistic
and authentic in interaction with the surrounding world.
Internal equilibrium is not a static state, but rather a dynamic process of self-knowledge
and self-development which requires constant work, attention, time, patience and awareness.