There is knowledge and there is
information. Knowledge can become wisdom when it has been applied effectively. Information
is helpful, but it cannot transcend itself and become anything more than
information.
I cannot remember where I first
came across this knowledge that when it comes to relationships, we maintain
harmony and balance when we try to ensure a ratio of at least 5 “good” moments
with a person for every 1 “bad” moment with this person. We all make mistakes, but the comfort of the
Golden Ratio of Relationships is that bad choices or behaviors can be accounted
for and good choices and behaviors become a buffer against those times when we may
unfortunately fall short again. Trying to prevent the falling short is itself a
good behavior—we can all allow harmony to flow from there if nothing else.
Since
we cannot control how many of these “good” moments the other person in a given
relationship will contribute, we contribute as many as possible without
overstretching ourselves. When our relationships are harmonious, our own
well-being and peace of mind is also supported.
The thing is, we can also find
ourselves in moments where it feels that no matter how many “good moments” we
can provide, the sheer avalanche of “bad moments” the other person contributes
will not be something our efforts can continue to keep “in ratio.” Sometimes
the most good we can do, in the collective sense, is to walk away from these
types of draining situations. Our good can be better applied in other environs.
This brings me to what I feel is
an even better application of the Golden Ratio (a concept which can be—and is—applied
to anything from flower arrangements to engineering). I want to talk about the
Golden Ratio of the Soul. Just as in the Golden Ratio of Relationships, the
goal here is to keep our souls golden through simply maintaining AT LEAST a
ratio of 5 good to every 1 bad. You could also state it as 5 acts of love for
every 1 act of harm.
I think most people utilizing this
ratio would understand that the more good you do, the better your overall chance
to maintain the splendor of your soul, which is the most precious of all that
is granted you.
