Tools For The Best Life Possible^TM

Here’s an equation that describes and measures an optimal life:

YO = ((S + W) / (V + G)) * P

Where YO is Your Optimal, S are your Strengths, W are your Weaknesses, V are your values, G are your goals and P is your purpose.

If you’re not used to using equations to summarize relationships this is how I would summarize the equation in words:

List all your Strengths and Weaknesses and add them up. Then list all your Values and Goals and add them up. Divide the first number by the second. Then take that number and multiply it by your Purpose. The result is an indication of how optimal your life is right now.

Cross-Discipline Metaphor

The YO equation uses algebra to describe the relationship between an abstract state of being on the one hand and human attributes, values, beliefs and aspirations on the other. It combines the language of philosophy, psychology and algebra. It is what I would call a Cross-Discipline Metaphor, although I’ve never run accross this term before. Performing a search on google for the term the only close match is for "Metaphors across disciplines" in an MIT Paper called, "A Model of 42 Models of Creativity" by Richard Tabor Greene. Very interesting. I look forward to reading Richard’s paper.

Anyway, the benefit to using such a metaphor is that it combines ideas and language from several fields of study and turns up ideas that would be very unlikely, otherwise. The drawback is that not every aspect of each field of study is applicable to the comparison. One of the most obvious difficulties in the YO equation is the units used to measure the attributes, qualities and abstract states of being. In algebra its important to get the units of measure straight. If you have two Strengths, for example, but one of those strengths is greater than the other it would be wrong to give each a value of ‘1′ in the equation. Every variable in the equation has similar problems. I’m trying to tell you that this is a Cross-Discipline Metaphor. As in any metaphor, the value is in the insight gained by comparing each element. If you want to focus on what doesn’t compare you are missing the point and the benefits.

I would urge you to contemplate the equation using your own intuition for each value. In order to make your contemplation more fruitful I will be more explicit about why the equation is valuable to discovering YO Life. Looking at the equation I will describe, in words, at least one conclusion for each variable that is implied by the algebraic equation:

YO = ((S + W) / (V + G)) * P

First, the obvious:

• The more Strengths you have the more chance you have of optimizing your life.
• The less weaknesses you have the more chance you have of optimizing your life.
• The less Values you have the more chance you have of optimizing your life.
• The less Goals you have the more chance you have of optimizing your life.
• If you have no Purpose then, regardless of all the other values your chance of optimizing your life falls to ZERO.

Now, for the not so obvious:

YO = ((S + W) / (V + G)) * P

• If you get stronger or acquire more strenth you can support more Values.
• If you get stronger or acquire more strenth you can support more Goals.
• If you focus on your true Values only you have a better chance of optimizing your life.
• If you focus on your true Goals only you have a better chance of optimizing your life.
• The extent to which your Purpose is clear determines the extent to which you can optimize your life.

Keep in mind, I am simply looking at the equation and reading aloud based on the relationships the equation presents. Now, let’s go even deeper using the same approach:

YO = ((S + W) / (V + G)) * P

• If you have many Strengths and no Values it may appear/feel like your life is optimal.
• If you have many Strengths and no Goals it may appear/feel like your life is optimal.
• If you have many Weaknesses they may outweight your Strengths and make on optimal life impossible.
• If you have no Weaknesses then your Strengths can function more efficiently and assist with your Purpose.
• If you have no Weaknesses then your Strengths can more easily support your Values and Goals.

As you can see, we’re pretty deep into this and have not yet exhausted the possibilities, all by looking at the equation and reading aloud about the relationships. I will come back to the equation and continue extrapolating in another update. For now, these examples set the tone for your own exploration of Your Optimal.

It is a beautiful and liberating equation. It will bring you to your knees as it frees you. In fact, it may already be doing so.

Tweet This Post Facebook

Tags: Algebra, Cross-Discipline Metaphor, Equation, Family, Finance, Goals, God, Health, Life, Personal, Purpose, Strengths, Values, Weaknesses

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm and is filed under Family, Finance, Goals, God, Health, Personal, Purpose, Strengths, Values, Weaknesses, YO. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.