# The Universal and the Particular By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-07-30 Existence is a trip. It is filled with commonality, uniqueness, and paradox. There are points around which we can all relate. There are moments of profound individuality. Humans exist between and among the universal and the particular. There is a desire to be united and part of something that transcends oneself. There is a desire to be appreciated for one’s distinctiveness. Mood and moment can influence which drive is more pronounced. This is not exclusively an existential dynamic. This plays out at work as well. One wants to be accepted within one’s profession. One wants to advance based on one’s exceptionalism. One can feel stifled in the group. One can feel isolated in success. Each offers something. Neither offers all. Dissatisfaction can appear at any moment. There are no easy answers. What works in one situation won’t work in another. This is not only limited to people being different but can occur for the same individual at different points in time and contexts. Much of the human condition is universal. As individuals, we are each particular. We can have empathy. We can never know for sure what another experience will be. To try sincerely is perhaps the best one can do. When given an opportunity, kindness tends to make things better. So, too, does honesty. These are relatively simple. Basic even. People apply them inconsistently. In both a universal and particular sense, honesty and kindness have something to offer. Society will improve when we improve. #### Related Items [[Universe]] [[Details]] [[Individuals]] [[Teams]] [[Society]] [[Self-Improvement]]