Many factors are involved in most everything… every perspective, every decision, every philosophy, etc. Disagreements arise. Not so much because of the difference in opinion, but rather on how adamant one is regarding his perspective. Usually, if one is willing to reflect, he can see at least some truth in both perspectives.
Conflicts amplify further when one overstates his viewpoint to be sure he has made it. A tug of war results. It may be feared that acknowledging the truth in the other perspective may result in losing the argument. The other perspective is then underrated. Nothing is black and white, but people try to make it all black and white. As it is said, yin creates yang… right creates left… the wheel of life goes round and round.
I recently told someone something I felt would help him… encouraging him to be bolder and move forward with his life. I knew it would stretch his comfort zone. It will be easy for him to take a stand and overstate my words in his mind – to make me wrong – to justify his current worldview. We will see what he does with my words.
Balance is the key.
Thank you again, and again, and again.
I love this blog. It seems that in this quick-paced age, there is not much room for nuance. Sound bites is all we have the attention span for and true communion is rare these days. Yes or no? Are you for it or against it? Are you in or out?…and the list goes on. No time to really “under”-stand the other person’s view point, and ironically, if we did, we would probably find out that in a lot of cases we actually agree or our viewpoints could complement each other and expand our horizon.
Always easy to see “white-knuckling” and “black and white” behavior in other people. But to see how WE are (or I am) a microcosm or mapping of that requires much more self-honesty. Fascinating though, once I get past the embarrassment. I can feel more and more how my patterns are actually structured in my physiology.
Great blog with many layers for exploration as usual! Also ties in nicely with the previous two blogs I think. Thank you for laying out all those blog topics in a manner that resonates so deeply.
I wonder how much the anger, the black and whiteness, of ones belief system is rooted in the acquired belief that showing one’s vulnerability is life threatening . All of it? It feels like a vicious circle. The hurt, then the anger, then the covering up of both which seems to lead to living the victim followed by entitlement. Entitlement to indulge whether it be via food, substances, digging in ones heels….. stickiness. Stuck. Even wars. Anything to block out the vulnerability of being hurt or being hurt again.
And then there is the ……I am entitled as a way of ignoring that deep down, the truth is I do not feel entitled at all. So self honesty gets lost in the muck and confusion ensues since it is hard to ask oneself: How entitled do I really feel?? So, it appears, two dynamics are going at once. I am entitled and I am not entitled at all. Bottom line, I think, the latter comes from the knowing the discomfort of self betrayal….. truth and true innocence each are abandoned to fit the fears of truly being seen ….. at least that is how it feels to me in this moment. I examined all this in a session with Mount Soma’s transgradient counselor, Barbara a while back. What I learned is still unraveling in my life. I am not “done”.
Extrapolating, then: I ask myself does the individual, then group, polarization in politics and religion, in our world currently, result from not asking oneself and addressing the question…from where inside me do my positions stem? The hurt, the trauma of the hurt??? or ???? No wonder “principles” can get lost and positions, ….. and ideas, ideals…. become concretions of no real benefit to humankind.
Excuse me for this “out loud” examination. The only way I learn is to give substance to the blogs as to how they affect my life and then my world. Thank you for providing the opportunity!!!
Can we take the emotion out of the equation? can we look at this case in point as true discernment to help continuously reflect and refine our current understanding?
As I re-read this blog I am astonished as to how clear and concise I find it going in. Thanks again for helping me to look deeper and live less cumbered by the winds that blow.
Richard,
Interesting question… Just to be sure we are on the same page, discernment is not divorce of emotion and is certainly not divorce of feeling. Thought is based upon reason is based upon the finest feeling level. We may think we think our way through life but we do not… We feel our way through life. Your thoughts matter little. How you feel about those thoughts makes all the difference. Thinking your way through a math problem is one thing. Finding your way through life is quite another. At the same time, even math is, in the deepest sense, based upon feeling… not thought. Consciousness viewed itself as other, felt it was other, and the universe emerged… One became two and the number line emerged. Based upon feeling, not thought.
I enjoyed this blog when I first read it however I am so happy I went back to it today. Your response to Richard took it all the way in. It is so sweet when an intellectual idea that seems so simple and easy to understand..softly settles in to a deeper place beyond thought. I “thought” that I understood my relationship with thoughts and feelings and what you meant with your teachings. Fascinating and humbling..simultaneously.
Thank you..
I really do love your blogs! Your words/energy fill me with wonder, and maybe even some sense of the unified field???
I “visit” the temple almost every morning and evening, and whenever my spirit moves me. I have seen an awesome blue sunrise and many amazing light shows. I have not yet figured out where the Hunaman statue is, but continue to enjoy sensing for his subtle energy!
As I put my hands together in a prayer position and respectfully bow my head to you, I can feel a warm flow of energy up my spine.
My deepest heartfelt thanks for the gift you are to all of us on this journey.