There’s a kind of thinking that blocks the light
That sees two colors, just black and just white
That looks through the lens of what’s wrong and what’s right
And always is ready to fight or to flight
It’s easy to see this the kind of thinking in others (projection), but not that easy to observe within myself.
I’ve been using a tool lately that helps me get free of that kind of black and white, us versus them thinking.
First, I look at something or someone that I have strong opinions or feelings about, and state my opinion to myself, as if I am placing it in my right hand.
Then I open the palm of my left hand and say, “On the other hand…” and nudge myself to see it empathically from another point of view.
Finally, I stretch a little more to include one more point of perspective, in between two extremes, that might have some validity for some folks.
Suddenly it’s no longer a black and white issue, There are grey areas, maybe even some colors. I have less enemy images in my head, and more room to see the humanity in people who don’t share my opinions.
The more I honor the possible validity of more than my own cherished point of view, the more my mind, and thus my heart, opens.
And that’s how I contribute to world peace.
