Identify the extremes.

I tend to view lots of things in life as a spectrum: Two polar opposite sides, each with viable pros and cons to weigh in search of “the best” outcome. Sometimes the middle really is the best compromise — but you have to know where the edges are in order to find the middle-bound tradeoff that makes sense for the situation.

There are nuances on both sides to consider, and of course, no real absolutes to anything — observing and analyzing the world around you is critical to charting the way you think through things. Here are a couple of areas and some possibly corresponding extremes that you might consider:

1. Finance — abundance vs scarcity

2. Work — freedom vs stability

3. Routines — productive vs indulgent

4. Hobbies — fun-having vs money-making

5. Social — marketing vs mental health