Find The Center

Hey Weekly Growth Fam!

I recently listened to an episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, where retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink discussed the dangers of extremes. He emphasized the importance of finding the center, using aggression as an example. On one end, uncontrolled aggression can lead to violence and negative consequences. On the other, extreme passivity can prevent us from standing up for ourselves or pursuing opportunities.

Here are some other examples to illustrate this concept:

• Work-life balance: Obsessively working overtime can lead to burnout, while neglecting work responsibilities can lead to job insecurity.
• Social interaction: Being overly social can drain your energy, while isolating yourself can lead to loneliness.
• Risk-taking: Playing it too safe can hinder growth, but reckless behavior can have serious repercussions.

This idea also resonates with the concept of the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which suggests that there's an optimal level of arousal (think stress or excitement) for peak performance. Too little, and we're under-stimulated and unfocused. Too much, and we become overwhelmed and make mistakes.

Finding the center isn't about achieving a perfect equilibrium all the time. Life is dynamic, and our priorities will shift. What's important is to be aware of the extremes and always strive to navigate back to a healthy middle ground.

One practical way we can incorporate this into our growth journeys is to regularly evaluate our lives across different aspects - physical health, mental wellbeing, work, relationships, etc. Are there areas that are being neglected? Or areas that we’re focusing too much on? Once we identify where we’re off balance, we can direct our attention towards making the necessary changes to recalibrate.

Quote of the Week

"Moderation is the key to everything. Too much of anything is bad, even a good thing." - Hippocrates

Announcements

As some of you know, medical school graduation is just around the corner! To help me document this exciting new chapter (and make content creation easier during residency), my incredible wife Madison created a wishlist fund for a small, high-quality camera that I can easily carry around. If you feel called to contribute, any amount is greatly appreciated! You can find the wishlist link below.

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See you next week,

JR