In previous editions of The Millionaire Mindset, I discussed how playing it safe can sometimes be the riskiest thing you can do. It’s a topic that resonates deeply with me, as society often encourages us to follow the “safe” path. This traditional wisdom, passed down unfiltered through generations, keeps us bound by unnecessary restrictions. It strips away our individuality, robbing us of the power to make our own choices and create our own lives.
We are told to play it safe, to avoid the extremes, and to seek balance by staying in the center. But what if real balance cannot be found by playing it safe?
What If Balance Requires Extremes?
What if the only way to discover your middle ground is by experiencing the extremes first? The middle, after all, only exists in relation to two ends of a spectrum. You can’t know where that equilibrium is until you’ve been to both sides. It’s by going to those extremes that you can truly discover what balance means for you.
Take my experience with veganism for example. For seven years, I immersed myself fully in the vegan lifestyle, cutting out all animal products and adjusting every part of my life around that choice. I embraced it with full commitment and learned a lot about nutrition, plant-based protein sources, and supplementation. But I also began to understand the limitations of this extreme. Over time, I realized that I had lost a sense of freedom and that I was actually hurting my body (in some ways) rather than helping it.
Discovering the Cost of Extremes
As someone who values abundance, I found that being strictly vegan wasn't in line with my core beliefs. The challenge of finding nutritious, satisfying food, particularly while traveling, became an ongoing frustration. Even more so, I started to feel constrained by the rigidity of the diet. I was no longer living a life of flexibility and choice, but rather one defined by the restrictions I had placed on myself.
The greatest realization for me was that the price of living at the extreme end of veganism was my personal freedom. The very values that I cherished—freedom, abundance, and flexibility—were slipping away.
Finding My True Balance
Today, I find myself in a much more balanced place. My diet is still predominantly plant-based, packed with fresh, seasonal vegetables, but I’ve also reintroduced small amounts of animal products—eggs, fish on occasion, a croissant with butter here and there. This isn’t about going back to the "safe middle ground" as society defines it, but rather finding what works for me, based on my journey through the extremes.
This middle ground feels right because it’s rooted in the lessons I’ve learned from exploring both ends of the spectrum. It’s a balance that’s flexible, abundant, and entirely my own.
Embrace the Extremes to Find Your Balance
The societal push to play it safe, to stay in the middle, is not the path to personal freedom. True balance and equilibrium can only be achieved by first exploring the extremes. Whether in diet, career, or life choices, it’s through testing the boundaries that you gain the clarity to define what balance looks like for you.
So, the next time you’re faced with a decision, consider this: Are you avoiding the extremes out of fear, or are you willing to embrace them to find your true equilibrium?
The answer could unlock a new level of freedom in your life.
