Years back I remember reading a post from Dr. Bryan Walsh stating that "there are no side effects, there are only effects." It was in regards to the evil pharmaceutical companies (please note some amount of sarcasm on my part) and the fact that their products will list "side effects," when, in reality, those very things are not side effects at all. They are effects of the drug.
We minimize those unsavory things we don't want to consider as a part of the whole. Drugs, personality traits, you name it. For instance, steroid users stack their drugs to minimize the "side effects" of aromatization and estrogen production. These are not side effects of testosterone use. These are effects. But because they are not the reason someone takes the drugs, they are labeled "side effects." This doesn't mean we should just live with them, but call them what they are.
The very same is often true of personality traits. The very same personality traits and types that produce great results in many areas also often end up sabotaging those same people, or those around them. Don't misunderstand me - this isn't a PSA against extremism in personality or action. To truly reach great heights in nearly any endeavor, balance is generally not an option. But realize that it will most likely come with a cost. These costs are not side effects. They are effects.
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