Articles & Links: Library of Ethical Development

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Site Updated : 3 April, 2008

Francis Picabia. Balance. c. 1919. Oil on cardboard. 60 x 44 cm. Private collection. (Image courtesy of Olga's Gallery).

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 Of Interest~

Extras from Lady DaVinci: Focus on Balance and Excellence

There are two foundational principles that support the process of personal development.  The first is balance.  This principle is the most important, because if we pursue development in one area to the exclusion of all others, we become myopic—unable to see the entire landscape that would help us understand how much we still don't know.  When we become satisfied with what we think we already know, we don't pursue the wisdom that's necessary to apply our knowledge and we end up with useless opinions and possibly even an exaggerated view of our own intellect. In contrast, the more we learn, the more realistic a view we have of the great gaps in our understanding.  Dan Fogelberg made this last point poetically in a song from his High Country Snows album:

The higher you climb, the more that you see
The more that you see, the less that you know
The less that you know, the more that you yearn
The more that you yearn, the higher you climb.

The second foundational principle is that of excellence.  This can be thought of in the terms, "Everything that your hand finds to do, do it with your best effort."  In some circles, this concept can be seen as being "pretentious" or "getting above one's raising" to use a Southern term from the United States.   In Australia, this critical view would be referred to as "tall poppy syndrome," although Australians are not the only ones who display it.  A Japanese proverb says, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." In any case, it's a common human reaction to find reasons to disapprove of those who strive for excellence.  Of course, sometimes the "excellent" bring these reactions on themselves because they may be a little too proud of their pursuits.  Others sense instinctively whether we are pursuing excellence for the right personal reasons, or whether we are doing it for the wrong reasons and comparing ourselves to others.

When we approach our personal development with balance and excellence, we're learning what some people call "leadership skills."  Sites that promote leadership principles are good places to find helpful tools for whole-person development.

One of Ladydavinci.com's favorites in this realm is a comprehensive site called Leadership Now. LeadershipNow.com describes its vision this way:

"At LeadershipNow, we want to change the way you think about leadership. It is not about position. Leadership is everybody’s business. It is for men, women and children. It is for families, business and communities. It is for you. "

Another site we like is Natalie Gahrmann's Blog about work/life balance. Natlie Gahrmann is "a certified Work/Life Coach, Author of Succeeding as a Super Busy Parent, Professional Speaker, Writer, Trainer, and Mother of 2 wonderful children."

One important key to maintaining balance that is often stressed at Ladydavinci.com is that of taking time to rest and recuperate. We appreciated this article from Christina Katz at BlueSuitMom.com, entitled: What Ever Happened to the Day of Rest?

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