“Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean,
man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives.
Man’s life is independent.
He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self too.”
– B.R. Ambedkar
In my opinion, this personal development is in the following areas of life:
– Spiritual
– Physical
– Financial/Net Worth/Stuff
– Mental/Learning
– Social
– Career/Business/Income/Value Added
– Family
Putting this into an image gives me the above. At the centre of it all is the Spirit: the eternal yin/yang symbol showing opposites and how they coexist. To me, these opposites can be summed up as the individual’s ego and their core values. These need to be in balance. One cannot exist without the other. They have to get along. Growth means improving oneself. There is, to my mind, no greater pursuit to commit to. It should not mean wantonly destroying those around us. It means expansion outwards and that is what is represented by the 6 arrows (Physical, Mental, Career/Business, Family, Social, and Financial). The figure is currently attempting to find balance along one of the axes. Balance is crucial. However, it is also necessary to be aligned and that means that the figure won’t be spending all of its time on this particular axis. It must explore the other axes, as well.
A balanced and aligned life neither feels pain nor causes any to others.
This is a good way to live, methinks.