Its a common human tendency to think in terms of duality.  The concept of duality is discussed and described meticulously in many of our worlds great wisdom traditions.  For an in depth review of the topic I’d recommend Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life available in either audio or hardcover format - which contains a lengthy discussion of the concept as originally described by Lao-tzu in the Tao Te Ching written 25 centuries ago. 

The concept of duality is essentially one in which human beings - as observers on this planet have created a world of extremes.  A world in which there are always two sides of a spectrum.  We think in terms of good or bad.  Right or wrong.  Up or down.  Beautiful and ugly.  Fun and boring.  Light or dark.  You get the idea.  And when we are not thinking in terms of strict duality, we are often thinking in terms of a sliding scale leaning from one side to the other.  I think of myself as average height only because I have a concept in my mind that there are tall and short people.

This introduction is not provided to contend that having this natural human tendency to compare and create spectrums is right or wrong, but rather to introduce you to a way of thinking that may be more empowering when you are looking for solutions to challenges within your own life or business. 

Imagine no Spectrum Exists

Imagine for just one moment that there were no left or right, no heaven or hell, no hot or cold, no safe or dangerous.  Instead consider that we simply exist.  That all these labels we’ve put on the universe are simply explanations that we’ve created to translate our experience in this world into a way in which our human minds can interpret and best understand that which exists. 

What might happen if we transcended our human experience - even just for a few seconds?  We might quickly see that there is simply perfection in creation, and that what we’ve labeled as good and bad, right or wrong are all aspects of a harmonious greater consciousness we are all part of.  Anger and frustration would be every bit as perfect as happiness and joy, and are clearly a natural function of the macro environment - which is all of creation.  The challenges arise on the micro level, when there is disharmony and discontent in the individual, a concept we humans have created.  To bring this discussion full circle, this disharmony and discontent does not exist in the reality of greater world outside of our human experience - simply because there is no reality of duality.  There is only existence.  Perfect, harmonious, and balanced existence. 

How does Understanding Duality Empower me as a Human Being 

When we get caught up in ‘our world’, consider the passage above.  Step out of your situation and ask yourself where the constructs of human duality are impacting your thought process.  Did you just lose your job and are you struggling with the duality concept of being rich or poor?  Perhaps your health is declining and you can’t stop thinking about being fat or skinny.  Maybe you are lonely and you constantly think about having a life that is social.  What are the dualities you are struggling with and how are these impacting you? 

As you are identifying the dualities that have been consciously or unconsciously guiding your judgement, notice what happens to your current state of being.  Are you calm?  Are you relaxed?  Are you feeling differently than you did when you were caught up in the duality you are now contemplating?  Are you thinking about your challenge from a new perspective?  Allow yourself to simply be and become aware of your state of being.  Notice nervousness, excitement, anger, joy and experience it for what it is.  This state of being is our connection with the universe right here and now.  The thoughts, interpretations, and internal conversations (monkey mind), are simply our interpretation of the outside signals from the world and our ability to become comfortable with and to master how we are right now will dictate our true potential for happiness and fulfillment.  See the world outside our human experience of duality to fully become one with the divinity of the world. 

This article discusses our capacity to transcend our being beyond the thoughts that make us human.  Perhaps another way to think about it is the dual opposite of transcending, and rather descending (or stepping back in evolution) such that we are not always listening to our highly rational and complex brains.  Clearly as evolution would have it, this sophistication is what uniquely makes us human.  Many of us (including myself at periods of life) lose track of our roots in a greater existence even though this aspect of our life , not our capacity to think and analyze, makes us who we are.

Concepts as simple as you and I are broken down when we think of our world beyond a dualistic approach and when you choose to embrace a life that is harmoniously guided by a consciousness that is beyond yourself, you are choosing a path that is guaranteed to thrive. 

Coaching Beyond the Spiritual Perspective

When I coach, often I’ll point out dualities that people bring up.  Particularly the duality of either/or thinking.  When people think in terms of strict dualities, creativity declines, the potential for solutions degrade and the space for opportunity vanishes.  Synergism, flexibility and cooperation are components of long term success (rather than an insistence of knowing what is the right way to approach a problem).  Even as you read these words, you may notice an energy that invokes possibility. 

Notice in your own life when you feel things must be one way or another.  Observe these situations and open yourself up to thinking outside the ways you typically think.  Potentially you’ll find that there is no right or wrong way to approach the challenge you are faced with, there is simply a way.  You may also find that there is neither success nor failure that you will face, simply a result.  The choice you make, becomes much easier when you allow yourself the opportunity to open up to possibilities, rather than living on any of the extremes of the human created spectrums that are part of our rationally perceived ways of thinking.   

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Be Well

Related Articles:

• Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life (Paperback)
• Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life (Audio)
• Conquering Monkey Mind
• Being Comfortable with Uncertainty

Written by Doug Nau, The Wellness Coach, i-grow.net