Personal growth is not solely about the individual. We have to consider the whole and grasp the totality of existence in order to improve our personal experiences with it.
The contact point between two different things - where seemingly incompatible things meet - is the Middle Way. It is where male and female meet, stillness and movement fuse, opposite things together become greater than their parts. How we integrate these opposing energies is through our personal stories (the way we live our lives). And yet we all need not only a personal story, but a shared story, which connects us to other people and their stories. Having too much personal focus without recognizing the interdependence of life, or the contrary, having too much archetypal, big picture focus lacking personal responsibility causes an imbalanced life. And the imbalance causes discomfort, confusion and suffering. It is within this Middle Way where we learn to grasp the big picture, the healthy awareness that comes with it, and the peace of mind and happiness we all crave.