Moderation in Action

Living as a person, it’s all about the doctrine of the mean. The pursuit of the mean is nothing more than a practical balance and a mental equilibrium. Clearly, everything must exist within a rational range to be reasonable. As the old saying goes, “Everything in moderation, for excess leads to disaster.” Therefore, in our actions and conduct, we must have an attitude, just as our words must carry credibility, and our deeds must adhere to principles, yet without crossing the line.

Having an Attitude in Actions

One can imagine how many people would silently leave if a person were to act without an attitude. In today’s society, it is essential for a person’s work to be perceived as reliable and promising, and to exhibit a responsible and dedicated attitude. If one lacks any sense of responsibility for their work, such as meeting the requirements of clients without any personal standards or expectations, they will undoubtedly fail to gain anyone’s recognition or trust. Moreover, individuals who lack an attitude in their actions are often both easily irritable and incompetent. While they may seem accommodating at first, once crossed or unintentionally offended within reasonable bounds, they are likely to hold grudges and actively seek to undermine others, even resorting to slander and manipulation to feel a sense of satisfaction.

The “Cai Gen Tan” states: “When the road narrows, leave space for others; when the flavor is strong, reduce it by three parts for others to taste.” In the intricate web of human relations, individuals who take their work seriously, responsibly, and wholeheartedly, and subsequently achieve favorable results, will earn the trust and confidence of others. Consequently, more resources and projects will be entrusted to them.

Speaking with Credibility

The most common daily activity is speaking. Speech is a double-edged sword, for a poorly chosen or imprecise word can offend others and lead to trouble. As the saying goes, “Words spoken in haste can bring harm.” If a person speaks without restraint, uses excessive flattery, or indulges in grandiose claims, their true nature will be revealed through their speech, tone, and demeanor, and they will be perceived as lacking credibility.

In reality, individuals with experience and social acumen are unlikely to collaborate with those who are unreliable in their speech and actions. Those who only focus on talking are likely to fail in their endeavors. Those who habitually make grandiose promises and arrangements are agreeable on the surface, but are likely to hold grudges and resort to vulgar language and slander if their expectations are not met.

Marshall Rosenberg said, “We may not think of our way of speaking as violent, but language often causes pain for ourselves and others.” The wisest individuals do not seek to outdo others in their speech, nor do they use their words to provoke, suppress, or harm others. Such individuals are often seen as lacking integrity and trustworthiness.

Kindness with Boundaries

There is a saying: “After spending time with someone, you will find that the greatest attraction between people is not your appearance or your achievements, but the solidity, sincerity, and kindness you convey to others.” Indeed, the most perfect quality in the world is kindness, and the most moving character is that of a kind person. However, in this world, not everyone is willing to be kind, nor is everyone capable of treating others with kindness. If one fails to understand human nature and the complexities of life, their excessive kindness will eventually lead to regret and remorse.

As the quote from “The Big Bang Theory” goes, “If you’re too kind, the world will sooner or later leave you bruised all over.” Indeed, if a person is excessively kind, to the point of being indiscriminate, the world will eventually reveal the harsh reality and truth to them.

Living as a person, one can be kind, friendly, and gentle, but must always have a sharp edge. After all, choosing to live with kindness in this world is, in a sense, not an easy task. For misguided kindness can bring not heaven, but a perpetual hell. Therefore, one’s kindness must have boundaries to prevent oneself from being dragged down and leading a life of increasing misery.