Finding Middle Ground: Action and Reflection

Are you a “doer,” or are you a thinker? What is the value in each of these dispositions? And does leaning too heavily in one direction necessarily present drawbacks or weaknesses in the other? Is it possible to be somewhere in the middle, or to have qualities that attribute both to being reflective and action oriented at the same time?

To Act and to Reflect: Both Virtues

Action-oriented refers to being willing or likely to take practical action to deal with a problem or situation. It’s both a predisposition of certain personalities and a learned style of approach in work, relationships, social situations and day-to-day life. Being a “doer” is often associated with spontaneity, risk-taking and a readiness to push forward in spite of obstacles or potential problems in the trajectory. It is a characteristic commonly paired with extroverted personality types and typically looked on favorably in any event. “Let go and let God” is an example of a saying or a belief that may not entirely align with the action-oriented.

Reflective refers to those who prefer to analyze situations before moving forward. These personality types tend to think deeply about beliefs, behaviors, outcomes, thoughts and emotions. They are often contemplative individuals, and they may enjoy writing, reading, arts, or other solitary pursuits. “Thinkers,” or reflective types, are usually introverted personalities and can also be capable of profound insight and wisdom. Reflection is a quality that is commonly attributed to philosophy and intellectualism. “Act now, think later” is an example of a saying that may not entirely align with the reflective individual.

Predisposed to Act: Called to Reflect

There is certainly great value in being of a reflective disposition, but it is hard to believe that anyone could accomplish anything at all if they were not to some degree predisposed to take action. If Friedrich Nietzsche, for example, although historically known as a predominant thinker, was not at all action oriented, he would or could never have accomplished the extraordinary amount of philosophical works, poetry, and cultural criticism that he did. On the same token, great value is attributed to the action-oriented individual by sheer virtue of being predisposed to take action, but if that same individual were of no capacity to reflect or contemplate, what value could possibly be attributed to such spontaneous or unplanned actions?

Spontaneity in itself is considered a virtue and certainly takes its place in the ability to impact and improve our lives, decisions and events. But is there a limit to that value? Or is spontaneity beneficial or virtuous only in certain situations? For example, a spontaneous demonstration of love or affection is virtuous, however, spontaneity in the construction of a building or an organization would have little value.

Conclusion: The Middle Ground

So would it be safe to say that being purely action-oriented and not at all reflective would have limited value? And that being reflective with no disposition to take action would also have limited value? Would it also be safe to say, then, that to orient ourselves properly in life, we must take the middle ground and be assertive in the time and place to reflect, and in the time and place to take action? Perhaps we can, while being of a predisposition and personality to lean more one way or the other, still be both of an orientation to reflect and of one to take action.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 13

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.