I Ching

Limits are necessary to give purpose and direction to life.  Swimming in a sea of boundless opportunity would soon lead to exhaustion.  Winging it alone in a sky of boundless opportunity would lead to being lost.  In human affairs, the making of choices, and alliances, implies limitation, for in choosing one path another must be abandoned.

One key to a successful life is to select your limits consciously and carefully – to be discriminating in the setting of personal boundaries and knowing when to join in formation.  Thrift, for example, often precedes prosperity; just as the letting go of selfish interests often leads to greater personal reward.  Only by consciously accepting useful limits can one’s energy be channeled to good purpose, and lead to lasting accomplishment. Point yourself toward a middle way, the mean between discipline and freedom of spirit.  Limits will come of their own accord; but to be able to consciously select your own affiliations in life – that’s knowing how to fly! At the same time, do not go overboard on discipline.  Even limitation must be limited, so that in attempting to bring order and direction into your life you do not choke off vital sources of enthusiasm and spontaneity. Similarly, in groups and organizations, the rules and regulations should strike a balance between being too strict and too soft.  If too strict, they build frustration among people, and ultimately become destructive.  If too lenient, sloppiness becomes acceptable, and energy is soon dissipated.  The best path is one which allows for the fulfillment of individual potential, while encouraging self-discipline and focus.

1. Before initiating action, wise people first evaluate their own ability to carry out the task.  If the limitations are overwhelming, no action is taken.  But inaction is also a kind of action, because the passage of time often brings strength to what is weak, and adds energy to what has remained still.  Maintain a steady purpose, but act only when the time is ripe.  In this way, limitations can actually serve your true interests.
2. When the waters of a lake rise above the dam, the water spills over without hesitation.  When limits in a particular situation have suddenly been overcome, nervous hesitancy to act is bound to be a mistake.  Seize the moment!
3. To live a life of extravagant luxury before having contributed to society; to act willfully and selfishly in violation of reasonable rules and customs; to defy social conventions for the sheer thrill of doing so – these are all excesses which can quickly lead to serious and unfavorable consequences.  Learn to take initiative and pleasure inside the bounds of what is fair and proper.
4. The measure by which to evaluate self-imposed limitations is this: do they save and restore energy, or do they dissipate it? A diet that requires such constant vigilance and self-struggle to maintain that it saps not only physical energy but personal resolve, will not achieve its intended purpose of restoring youth and vigor.  Vain struggles with artificial limitations are best redirected quickly, so that the true goal is kept in sight.  Easy does it.
5. Do not ask others to wear a yoke you yourself would be unwilling to carry.  Impose no rules you yourself could not live by.  This is especially true, if you are in a position of leadership.  If you are able to impose limits on others which truly fit the circumstance, and do not overly limit their freedom, greater success is possible.
6. Tyranny never endures, because the source of power is undermined by its administration.  Ruthless severity in the administration of power – the imposing of strict limits on others’ freedom – can never be a consistent strategy, for by its very consistency a greater counter force is encouraged to grow.  Severity can be imposed in specific circumstances, when the situation calls for it, but it must be specific in intent and limited in duration to be successful.  In the proper exercise of leadership, strong actions must be balanced by mild and compassionate ones to achieve balance.