We spend our whole lives in the attainment of happiness. Some have said it’s the ultimate pursuit. While we won’t cover happiness in detail here I think we can still agree that happiness is a state we all wish to attain.
The Golden Mean- The Middle Way
Aristotle, one of the most prominent philosophers in ancient Greece whose thought continues to heavily influence our lives today, believed that the key to a happy and fulfilled life is to aim for the middle ground in all things.
He did this through the concept known as the “Golden Mean,” which states that the best course of action is to find a balance between two extremes. What exactly does this mean?
The golden mean is Aristotle’s idea that we should find a balance between two extremes in our behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Say you’re a student preparing for exams. You may face two extremes in your study habits: procrastination and over-studying. Procrastination is a deficiency, where you may avoid studying entirely or delay it until the last minute, while over-studying is an excess, where you may study obsessively without taking breaks or getting enough rest.
The golden mean in this context is finding a balanced study routine that avoids both extremes. This could involve setting aside regular study hours, taking breaks to rest and recharge, and prioritizing quality over quantity in your study time. By finding this balance, you can avoid the negative consequences of both procrastination and over-studying, such as stress, burnout, and poor performance.
In modern times, this philosophy of the golden mean has been applied to various fields, including mental health, where finding a balance is crucial to achieving overall well-being.
Why Is Aiming For The Middle Important For Mental Health (And Happiness)?
The mind is complex, and it’s not always easy to find a balance between different aspects of our lives. We may struggle with extremes such as overworking, oversleeping, overeating, or overindulging in activities that provide temporary pleasure but aren’t conducive to our long-term health and happiness. Aiming for the middle, or finding a balance between these extremes, can help us manage our mental health more effectively.
When we find balance in our lives, we’re better able to manage stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions. We become more resilient, and our ability to cope with challenges increases. Additionally, aiming for the middle can help us avoid burnout, which is a significant problem in our modern society.
Burnout can occur when we push ourselves too hard, either physically or mentally, and neglect our self-care needs. When we aim for the middle, we’re better able to prioritize self-care and prevent burnout from occurring.
How Can We Achieve The Golden Mean In Practice?
Achieving the Golden Mean requires self-awareness, mindfulness, and intentionality. We need to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they impact our overall well-being. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga, can help us become more aware of our inner experiences and reduce our reactions to external stressors. Intentionality involves setting goals and boundaries that align with our values and priorities.
In Practice, Aiming For The Middle Might Involve:
- Balancing work and leisure time: We need to find a balance between our professional and personal lives, allowing us to work hard but also make time for relaxation and enjoyment.
- Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine: Aiming for the middle involves neither depriving ourselves nor indulging in unhealthy habits. Instead, we aim for moderation and balance in our eating and exercise habits.
- Building healthy relationships: Finding the Golden Mean in our relationships means neither isolating ourselves nor becoming overly dependent on others. Instead, we aim for healthy interdependence and connection with others.
- Managing our emotions: Aiming for the middle means neither suppressing our emotions nor becoming overwhelmed by them. Instead, we aim for emotional regulation and balance.
- Working on our virtues and vices: to achieve balance, we need to be self aware of our choices and actions.
Summed up, Aristotle’s philosophy of the Golden Mean teaches us that balance and moderation are key to achieving happiness and fulfillment in our lives. By aiming for the middle in various aspects of our lives, including work, self-care, relationships, and emotions, we can manage our mental health more effectively and cultivate overall well-being. Through self-awareness, mindfulness, and intentionality, we can achieve the Golden Mean and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
It’s important to note that aiming for the middle, achieving that golden mean, is a constant practice and requires work to enact. There’s no better time to start than right now. If you would like to work on developing your ability of the golden mean, get in contact with me for some one on one sessions.
