To Act and to Contemplate

Some people are like waterfalls. They spill out over the world noisily and have a self-expressive energy that is very clear, palpable, and evident. They are communicative, dynamic, express their opinions openly and often try to impel their ideas, can be aggressive if not joyful and are expansive. They tend to be fans of themselves, are self confident like to communicate and can advertise things with ease, like to be in movement, to act.

Others reveal the opposite type. They are like lakes. They are quieter, reserved and receptive. They are good listeners, are more self controlled. Some like isolation, in solitude, have few friends, while others are more sociable, but in a calm, tranquil way. They enjoy company, are welcoming, gentle and receptive. They tend to be patient, meticulous, work in silence and are not show offs. Generally have less self confidence in external action, but in compensation are more self conscious. They evaluate how their actions affect those around them.

The first type tends to be more pro action and the second more contemplative. If we observe closely our own act of breathing we have an image which reflects the significance of these two types. When we breathe in the air penetrates us, sustains us, and fulfills us. The world comes into us. When we release the air we empty ourselves, relax and spill out over the world the air that was inside of us. In the first type, the extroverted, exhaling is predominant, in the second, the introverted, inhaling is. One of the two tendencies is almost always predominant in us. This is the equivalent of saying that we are a bit unilateral, unbalanced. The excess of introversion can make a person too timid, fearful, to have difficulty to defend and express themselves. The person delays action frequently for doubting that he knows enough about what needs to be done. He then can transgress by omission. The excess of extroversion brings with itself the danger of arrogance, of authoritarianism, of excessive self confidence. The person acts precipitously, doesn’t listen much, and is almost always right. Here is the danger of a lack of an internal life, of a profound apprenticeship with life. The person wants to input himself and assimilate little.

Balance will not come on its own. We have to want it and seek it out. Deep down inside of us there is a yearning for these two ways of relating with the world, with the people around us. We want to receive, comprehend, to feel inside of us an internal life, intense feelings, clear thoughts, self confidence. On the other hand we have a hunger for self expression. We want to be understood, to be capable of realizing something that other people can recognize and receive as valuable and good. To influence, leave our individual marks on the external world.