yin and yang

People are full of contradictions. Brilliance and Despair in the same person. Yin and Yang. God and Devil. Genius and Dumb. All in the same people, appearing at different times.

A few examples.

Brilliant in spending hours researching, reading, going into rabbit holes, burning midnight oil, coming up with diamonds from depths of internet’s dark corners and Reddit subs, aware of trends before it becomes trends, creates clear content to educate. But speaks in riddles, lacks self esteem, moody, emotionally unstable, can’t take any negative feedback, shuts off in face of confrontation, switches off and disappears at times.

Ambitious, hard working, fights for oneself, grabbing any opportunity that comes one’s way, hungry, tenacious. But panics easily, constant worrier, affects people around with the worries, drops something once it becomes overwhelming, reacts sharply under stress.

Conscientious, principled, disciplined, feels for fellow human beings pain to the extent that it affects physically, can painstakingly construct a point of view, has high self esteem. But suffers from tunnel vision, can hurt others with cut and dry observations, sees the world in black and white and doesn’t see any grey, gets into conflicts because of hardline principled analysis of every situation.

And many such combinations. How do we navigate all these every day and still get through to where we want to go together? Tolerate the blips and work with the angelic side? What should be corrected and what should be left alone? If we correct something, will the person stop working altogether because one thing fueled another (passion and obsession, principles and care, emotion and vulnerability)? Do we amplify the positives when we need so that it remains not just in balance, but net positive?

I feel most of life has become about putting together these recipes.