Self-Development
The Eastern Approach vs. the Western Approach: Which Works Better
The Eastern tradition teaches acceptance; the Western tradition teaches achievement. For years, I’ve tested both on myself and my students, and the most interesting part begins where they stop conflicting.
What Each School Offers
The Eastern approach focuses on a person’s state of being: as long as there is inner turmoil, any strategy will be carried out in fits and starts. The Western approach focuses on the result and measures it—without this, working on oneself easily turns into self-comfort.
Where They Converge
Practice shows a simple truth: a state without a goal dissipates, and a goal without a state burns out. The working combination is a calm mind and a measured next step.