We humans thrive on having an enemy. All the most interesting stories have an adversary and obstacles. How else would we find out if we’re worth our salt?
I happened to love challenges so much I’ll even make them up.
I argue that there isn’t much that aligns a team better than having an enemy. We band together and fight beside one another for the common good.
The dynamic this creates is directional-I move towards this and away from that. The downside to this is that most of the time, if not always, we’re seeing the world as a challenge to be overcome or won. We look to dominate in areas of life that are inappropriate like relationships, parenting, acquiring wealth, etc.
And if we don’t overcome the “made up” obstacles it’s the perfect excuse to believe that, in fact, we are that piece of this we always knew we were…
What would life be like without opposition? Is that even possible?
Here’s my idea! I’ve been seeking peace my whole life. And failing miserable. Everywhere I looked I was seeing that someone or something was in the way of it. I’ve been constantly robbed of it by whatever happenstance delusion was interesting to me that day.
I’ve grown suspicious of moving away from things and more interested in integration and wholeness. There’s a lot of shit I need to move towards and build intimacy with rather than move away.
A really good friend said to me the other day “try softer”. He offered that instead of “trying harder” that there could be a totally different approach and it hit me hard. My thoughts went to the phrase of “choosing the path of least resistance”. I’m not so sure about that but I’m definitely up for a path of a lot “less” resistance.
These thoughts all fell into place in a way they hadn’t before. I new construct (or old one that had been buried) that clicked and opened up a new reality for me.
The opportunity:
What might you lose if you did more allowing rather than forcing?
What do you regularly trade for your peace?
Where in your life do you see something as an obstacle inappropriately?
Thanks for your time, have a great day!