They Can Both Be True

Scott

Aug 5

We like black and white absolutes. This is good and that is bad. This person is nice, that person is mean.

We like these absolutes because their easy to understand. However, as you've probably notice, no everything is so black and what. In fact, sometimes opposing realities can exist at the same time.

I have a friend whose dad passed away on Christmas day several years ago. In his case, is Christmas day a good day or a bad day? Is it a day to look forward to or a day to anticipate with grief. Is it filled with joy or sadness.

The answer is, "Yes".

Sometimes the comfort and certainty of black and white is replaced with diametrically opposite realities. In my friend's case, Christmas can be a day of great joy, while at the same time being a day of sadness and loss.

I've found in my own life that it's helpful to acknowledge scenarios when two or more opposite realities are true at the same time. Beyond just acknowledging, it's also helpful to learn to hold those 2 realities at the same time. One doesn't have to be true while the other is false. They can both be true at the same time.

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