We can experience any kind of pleasure and pain either too much or too little. But to experience all this at the right time, toward the right objects, toward the right people, for the right reason, and in the right manner—that is the median and the best course, the course that is a mark of virtue.
—ARISTOTLE
In Buddhism, the Middle Way refers to the path to relieve suffering by learning to regulate one’s thoughts, impulses, and behaviors. Aristotle’s golden mean, from the Western philosophical tradition, offers a similar idea. It suggests that we should strive to find a mean between any two extremes of thought and behavior, given that each extreme represents a human vice. Both Eastern and Western philosophies recognize that any human characteristic could be a negative when expressed in its extreme, unregulated form, whereas a balanced, middle position of that same characteristic has positive virtues.
This section describes the middle way of the mind. This middle path develops essential abilities enabling a more fulfilling way of engaging life on its own terms. Cultivating the mind’s capacity for the essential characteristics curiosity, flexibility, and optimism sustains the health of the brain and allows for the flourishing of the heart. These topics represent a bridge between physical practices that support the brain and the higher practices that connect us to others and to our highest potential for living with authenticity.
None of these essential characteristics develops automatically or in a vacuum. They are interrelated. Curiosity helps us to engage deeply with the world. Flexibility allows us to adjust and adapt to what we encounter along the way. Optimism enables us to persevere with hope and trust regardless of the obstacles we encounter. All three support our mental and emotional health as we age. The next three chapters provide the information and the concrete steps you need to develop these qualities, and yourself, to the fullest.