The instant Google definition for Virtue doesn’t align with how it’s usually used in writing or conversation.
I consider a virtue to be any trait or ability that must be restrained in order to exercise it the “right” way or the right amount.
My example, in your format, is defenseless and fully capable (maximum offense).
Being able to defend oneself is great. Ensuring everyone knows you can defend yourself might be red flag, provocative.
Anyway, this is my contribution. Your piece made me reflect on my own journey with virtues. Feel free to just read this. Replies are always welcome, though.
Along these lines, I personally believe that everything in our lives needs to be viewed dualistically, so we can clearly perceive how balanced we are between each newly discovered, theoretical set of extremes.
We are the fulcrum for this perceptional, existential see-saw, and have to correctly position ourselves accordingly.
I like that you did not turn the Golden Mean into bland moderation. The middle is not always the safe compromise; sometimes it is the hardest place to stand because it requires judgment instead of ideology. That feels especially relevant now, when almost every signal online rewards people for becoming a caricature of one side.
Ryan, this one does something useful — it takes a feeling most people can only describe vaguely ("I'm trying to find balance") and gives it real structure. The Aristotle frame makes the internal work legible.
What struck me most was the line about the middle not being a fixed point. I work with people in career transitions and that's usually where the confusion starts. They think alignment is a destination — something you achieve once and then maintain. What you're describing is closer to what it actually is: judgment, continuously applied, season to season.
The thing I'd add from what I see in sessions: most people can identify which extreme they've drifted toward. They know when they've become too rigid or too passive. The harder problem is that the middle keeps moving. What's enough discipline in one chapter becomes a cage two years later. That adjustment is where people tend to get stuck.
As always, your work is insightful and full of truth. I admire the connections and the observations as well as the examples you are using to formulate your options on these topics.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention and providing great examples to go along with each topic.
Way to tie the "messy middle" into a wide range of context. Great piece.
My favorite rule from the world of human performance is that "Force is the language of the cells." There is no integrity, motion, or growth of our bodies without tension.
Too much tension, and ligaments break. Too little tension, and muscles atrophy.
Living in tension is a good thing, fundamentally. Just need to learn enough about it to know how to navigate it well.
What a great list! Several recognizable spectrums for me. As a yoga teacher, I think often about equanimity. The ancient yogis believed it took many lifetimes to find the middle, but we can do our best in this one. I like the idea of seasonal grace.
The instant Google definition for Virtue doesn’t align with how it’s usually used in writing or conversation.
I consider a virtue to be any trait or ability that must be restrained in order to exercise it the “right” way or the right amount.
My example, in your format, is defenseless and fully capable (maximum offense).
Being able to defend oneself is great. Ensuring everyone knows you can defend yourself might be red flag, provocative.
Anyway, this is my contribution. Your piece made me reflect on my own journey with virtues. Feel free to just read this. Replies are always welcome, though.
Great addition here Jake, thank you for taking the time to read and leave such a reflective comment. Appreciate you!
Excellent article!
Along these lines, I personally believe that everything in our lives needs to be viewed dualistically, so we can clearly perceive how balanced we are between each newly discovered, theoretical set of extremes.
We are the fulcrum for this perceptional, existential see-saw, and have to correctly position ourselves accordingly.
Thank you so much!
I like that you did not turn the Golden Mean into bland moderation. The middle is not always the safe compromise; sometimes it is the hardest place to stand because it requires judgment instead of ideology. That feels especially relevant now, when almost every signal online rewards people for becoming a caricature of one side.
Appreciate you reading!!
Ryan, this one does something useful — it takes a feeling most people can only describe vaguely ("I'm trying to find balance") and gives it real structure. The Aristotle frame makes the internal work legible.
What struck me most was the line about the middle not being a fixed point. I work with people in career transitions and that's usually where the confusion starts. They think alignment is a destination — something you achieve once and then maintain. What you're describing is closer to what it actually is: judgment, continuously applied, season to season.
The thing I'd add from what I see in sessions: most people can identify which extreme they've drifted toward. They know when they've become too rigid or too passive. The harder problem is that the middle keeps moving. What's enough discipline in one chapter becomes a cage two years later. That adjustment is where people tend to get stuck.
Good piece.
Thank you so much, Tiago. Feel free to share this piece with your coaching clients 😁
Hey Ryan,
As always, your work is insightful and full of truth. I admire the connections and the observations as well as the examples you are using to formulate your options on these topics.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention and providing great examples to go along with each topic.
Always a treat to read your work, man.
All-the-best!
Way to tie the "messy middle" into a wide range of context. Great piece.
My favorite rule from the world of human performance is that "Force is the language of the cells." There is no integrity, motion, or growth of our bodies without tension.
Too much tension, and ligaments break. Too little tension, and muscles atrophy.
Living in tension is a good thing, fundamentally. Just need to learn enough about it to know how to navigate it well.
Thank you so much!
Ryan, this is great. Very helpful.
Thank you!!
What a great list! Several recognizable spectrums for me. As a yoga teacher, I think often about equanimity. The ancient yogis believed it took many lifetimes to find the middle, but we can do our best in this one. I like the idea of seasonal grace.