“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”

I've been thinking recently about how balance is necessary in our lives. I realize that you've got to balance everything out to a certain extent: partying vs. studying, sitting vs. exercising... but what I've become most interested in is the balance between self-worth and where you think you could be. I suppose the best, and perhaps the most academic, way to think about this is using Higgins' Self-Discrepancy Theory. This theory is quite simple and is one of the pillars of the social psychological study of the self. It clearly states that there are two selfs that we see - the actual self (AS) and the ideal self (IS).

IS - AS = SD

I like to take photographs. It's something that I think I am reasonably good at, though I know that I could be much better and I am absolutely certain that given ample time and freedom to explore the boundaries of photography, I will achieve or near my ideal photographer self. With this in mind, how can I be at all impressed or satisfied with the work I produce today? Just last night I took a photo that I am quite fond of. I took it specifically for No Gift Of Words and more specifically, I consider it to be a photo that speaks to problems with balance. If you are to balance your actual self with your ideal self - you're bound to face some disappointment. This disappointment will inevitably cause frustration. It's what you do with that frustration that really determines how effective a person you are at nearing your ideal self.

I realize now that some of this is sounding quite strange. Excuse me.

You mustn't wear yourself thin. I have that problem. I tend to compare my work to the portfolios of published photographers in reputable journals, magazines and coffee-table photobooks. I have to stop this. So to leave this, I ask you this:

• Where are you now?
• How does that compare to where you want to be?
• Why aren't you there?

Just another note: a photographer that offered me very good advice has sent me a link to his blog, I recommend you click THIS link.