“The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts”

Yin and Yang is the concept of dualism, two opposing forces coming together and creating stability rather than chaos. These forces, whatever they may be, compliment each other despite their differences and become interconnected to make the whole greater than its parts.

In a way, Part One and Part Two of Yin and Yang and that Other Thang are opposite in nature. One speaks to the need for relaxation and reconnection, while Two voices the importance of sacrifice and hard work; one requires downtime, and the other demands that you never give up.

It goes without saying, the key is finding balance between the two to create harmony in your life – everything is better with moderation, as they say.

Now, by no means am I a life coach or self-development guru, and I’m not trained, nor am I qualified, to set you on the path of success. I’m not trying to get you to change your lives either, I attempt only to do that for myself and share my experiences with an audience of my peers.

I make note of the following with this in mind:

1. Developing and maintaining positive habits is a lot harder to do than giving up and reverting to negative behavior – be resilient and remember winning takes sacrifice. It’s just a hell of a lot more fun than losing and offers sweeter rewards
2. Sustaining your winning streak requires a few rest days now and again to heal your mind, body, and soul – life is a long-term game involving foresight. Neil Young sings “it’s better to burn out than to fade away,” but I’ll argue being “the strong one in the long run” is for the best
3. Happiness and success come with finding a middle ground and creating a healthy work/life balance – form a bond with Yin and Yang in all elements of your life. Tipping the scale one way or the other is unhealthy and leads to disorder

When I hear the saying “live your best life,” I don’t envision myself on a luxurious vacation, partying on an island, and not having to worry about real-world responsibilities.

Admittedly, that scenario has its appeal, but I believe your best life comes with dedication (blood, sweat, and tears) to your passions and being triumphant in your efforts. I also picture the little things like the joy of laughing with friends and family; I recognize the importance of a day away from the office, and I value walks along the water with my partner and our pipsqueak of a dog.

I discover contentment with Yin and Yang and that Other Thang!