| Our culture is grounded in judgment and has been | | | | Dealing with duality is how I have come to |
| for a very long time. This tendency does offer | | | | understand the coach's dance with their clients - |
| some value. We are able to make quick | | | | ask the question, stay present in the moment, |
| judgments to keep ourselves safe, such as when | | | | listen closely to the answer while letting go of any |
| we determine we need to stop the car when | | | | pre-conceived answers at the same time - |
| another pulls out in front of us when we least | | | | allowing the ebb and flow of the conversation to |
| expect it. Or, we go to the doctor when we have | | | | move freely in the direction chosen by the client, |
| broken a leg due to a fall. | | | | without judgment. A great lesson for life, don't |
| The challenge for us is in recognizing when we are | | | | you think? |
| drawing conclusions based upon the duality of the | | | | In the second verse of the Tao, Lao Tzu tells us, |
| universe, or the paradoxical unity, rather than | | | | "He (the Sage) does nothing for himself in this |
| allowing what is to just be. Is it possible for us to | | | | passing world so nothing he does ever passes". |
| discern opposites and yet view them as unified | | | | What speaks to me in this concept is the merging |
| and perfect? For example, can beauty exist | | | | of mind, body and spirit in living the purpose we |
| without ugly? Fear without courage? This is the | | | | are here to live, without being pushed in any |
| yin and the yang of life, which when fitted | | | | direction with thoughts of who you should be or |
| together create a perfect whole. | | | | what you should do. Living simply, as who you |
| The joy of living in the paradoxical unity is in | | | | are, pursuing your passions while honing the inborn |
| allowing yourself to hold opposite thoughts within | | | | talents you were given at birth - peaceful, |
| yourself without allowing one dominion over the | | | | good-natured and without judgment - allows you |
| other. It strikes me that we have free will and | | | | to experience your eternal self while still in the |
| the ability to make choices while still listening | | | | form you were given. When it's time to leave |
| closely to what the Universe is telling us. When | | | | your body, you pass back into the oneness |
| we allow this to happen, we are living with | | | | leaving all you have done behind you. When duality |
| integrity. We live life with intention, making wise | | | | creeps in, and judgments crop up, allow them to |
| and thoughtful choices. | | | | reside in peace as part of your unified life. |
| So many of my clients are challenged by fear of | | | | You can use these concepts to create a life of |
| moving forward in the direction of oneness, and | | | | ease, accomplishing a great deal without trying. It |
| yearning for it at the same time. They are not | | | | is unnecessary to connect with one side or the |
| unique in this. It is my experience that most of us | | | | other, but simply let the dualities of action and |
| are struggling with this core issue as we take | | | | trying, competition and results, work and reward, |
| each step on our spiritual journey. We often let | | | | and giving and receiving to co-exist. In other |
| fear have dominion over courage. If we were to | | | | words, just be. Move forward with what feels |
| let fear and courage reside side by side, | | | | right for you while listening to the music of the |
| recognizing them and accepting them, eventually | | | | Universe. |
| the paralysis caused by fear would diminish and | | | | What can I do today to just be with what is? |
| allow us to soar. | | | | |
