BALANCE

I advocate for balance. Radical approaches often seem flawed to me. Moreover, I see dichotomies and opposites not as objective realities but as intellectual constructs. For example, cold and hot are objective opposites, while soul and matter represent a false dichotomy. Good and evil are an intellectual dichotomy.

I chose pairs of opposites not based on their nature but on what caught my attention. These pairs highlight internal conflicts and dilemmas, helping to understand the multifaceted human experience in relationships with others and oneself. Balancing on the scale of these opposites promotes deeper self-awareness and understanding of the complexities of interpersonal interactions.

These concepts play a significant role in personality psychology and motivation as they influence behavioral strategies, goal-setting, and overall attitude towards life. Understanding one's position on these axes can aid in personal growth, self-esteem, and strategies for overcoming life's challenges.

Rationalism - Idealism

This pair embodies different approaches to understanding and interacting with the world:

Rationalism - Adherents of rationalism strive for an analytical examination of facts and data, basing their conclusions on objective evidence, statistics, reason, objective thinking, and logical reasoning. This approach emphasizes practicality and realism in assessing situations. Absolute rationalism can diminish or completely devalue romanticism, beauty, dreaminess, and irrationality.

Idealism - Idealism is oriented towards high ideals and values. Idealists often view the world through the lens of what it should be rather than what it is. They tend towards optimism and belief in the best, sometimes ignoring harsher realities, which can manifest in a pursuit of perfection and high moral standards. The most severe consequence of idealism is intolerance and cruelty towards anything that does not fit into the idealistic picture.

**Internal Locus of Control - External Locus of Control**

Internal Locus of Control - Indicates the belief that a person controls their own life and events within it. Individuals with an internal locus of control feel responsible for the outcomes of their actions and that their personal choices and efforts determine success. However, this approach can burden a person with overwhelming guilt and fear over events beyond their control.

External Locus of Control - Involves the belief that most significant events in their lives are determined by external forces such as fate, chance, other people, or socio-economic environment. Such individuals may feel they have less control over their destiny and may feel less responsible for the outcomes of their actions.

Individualism - Collectivism: The desire for personal independence contrasts with the need for social integration and participation in group activities.

Openness - Reservedness: The desire to be open and accessible opposes the tendency towards personal isolation and maintaining boundaries.

Empathy - Detachment: The ability to feel and share the emotions of others contrasts with the need for emotional protection and independence.

Self-Actualization - Self-Sacrifice: The desire for personal development and achieving goals opposes the inclination towards altruism and giving oneself to others.

Trust - Suspicion: The willingness to trust people and rely on their honesty and support contrasts with the need to be wary of possible deceit and betrayal.

Ambition - Contentment: The drive for success and high achievements opposes the satisfaction with what has been achieved and the acceptability of the current state of affairs.

Flexibility - Principle: The ability to adapt and change in response to circumstances contrasts with the firm adherence to established rules or beliefs.

Desire to Know - Acceptance of Uncertainty: The need for understanding and control over situations contrasts with the ability to accept uncertainty and the unknown.

Atomization - Fusion: This pair illustrates the tension between the desire to break down into smaller, independent parts (atomization) and the desire to unite or merge into a larger whole (fusion).

Synchronization - Autonomy: This is about balancing the need for coordination and harmonizing actions with others (synchronization) and the desire for independence and self-sufficiency (autonomy).

Freedom - Duty: The pair reflects the conflict between the desire for personal freedom and the necessity of fulfilling social or moral obligations (duty).

Forgiveness - Demandingness: The contrast between the ability to forgive others' mistakes and the striving for strict standards or expectations (demandingness).

Control - Granting Freedom: The tension between the desire to manage situations or other people (control) and the desire to give others the freedom to act (granting freedom).

Stability - Variability: The conflict between the desire for consistency and predictability (stability) and the necessity to adapt to changes or new conditions (variability).

Optimism - Realism: The opposition between the tendency to see the world in the best light, sometimes ignoring real difficulties (optimism), and the drive to recognize reality as it is, even if it is less comforting (realism).

Conservatism - Innovation: The tension between the desire to preserve existing methods or resources (conservation) and the drive for new ideas and changes (innovation).

Personal Space - Community: The dialectic between the need for personal space and time for oneself (personal space) and the need for communication and participation in social events (community).