Hi Gillian! It's great to see you writing again. I just came across this by chance through a re-stack on Notes. It's lovely to see so many readers resonating with your wise words.
I'd like to add that the third way, the standing outside the conflict, is also a radical act because it is the only way to not play the divide and conquer games…
Hi Gillian! It's great to see you writing again. I just came across this by chance through a re-stack on Notes. It's lovely to see so many readers resonating with your wise words.
I'd like to add that the third way, the standing outside the conflict, is also a radical act because it is the only way to not play the divide and conquer games set for us by those who seek to control us. From what I can see, the polarisation of which you speak exists because it is a quite deliberate strategy on their part. This looks like dividing again into Them and Us - the Controllers and the Controlled - but it's actually through the ability to see the game clearly that we can step out of it and live our own lives again. Also, I think, neither going along with nor fighting against something does not preclude saying a clear No to it. There are times when we need to stand tall and say No to engaging in a subject put before us by others to choose an opinion on. Not my game, not going to get caught up in it!
So nice to see your note come through, Helen! I hope you have been well and will send a note to catch up more personally :) I agree that these games of division could be deliberate as they keep us from uniting and actually turning our focus to the roots of conflict and the people that hold the true power to shape our society. And certainly, there's are times to take a stand and say no.
As I said, I will send you an email to check in and see how things are going with you! And to update you on where Jakob and I are at.
So well said Helen! Seeking that middle way perspective is such a powerful tool for not getting caught up in the endless cycle of Us vs Them conflict. I'm glad you see that too. I've noticed people who are themselves invested in that conflict are often quick to sneer at the mention of finding nuance or transcending the conflict in some way—I take that as a sign of just how powerful and radical the middle way is!
Hi Gillian! It's great to see you writing again. I just came across this by chance through a re-stack on Notes. It's lovely to see so many readers resonating with your wise words.
I'd like to add that the third way, the standing outside the conflict, is also a radical act because it is the only way to not play the divide and conquer games set for us by those who seek to control us. From what I can see, the polarisation of which you speak exists because it is a quite deliberate strategy on their part. This looks like dividing again into Them and Us - the Controllers and the Controlled - but it's actually through the ability to see the game clearly that we can step out of it and live our own lives again. Also, I think, neither going along with nor fighting against something does not preclude saying a clear No to it. There are times when we need to stand tall and say No to engaging in a subject put before us by others to choose an opinion on. Not my game, not going to get caught up in it!
So nice to see your note come through, Helen! I hope you have been well and will send a note to catch up more personally :) I agree that these games of division could be deliberate as they keep us from uniting and actually turning our focus to the roots of conflict and the people that hold the true power to shape our society. And certainly, there's are times to take a stand and say no.
As I said, I will send you an email to check in and see how things are going with you! And to update you on where Jakob and I are at.
So well said Helen! Seeking that middle way perspective is such a powerful tool for not getting caught up in the endless cycle of Us vs Them conflict. I'm glad you see that too. I've noticed people who are themselves invested in that conflict are often quick to sneer at the mention of finding nuance or transcending the conflict in some way—I take that as a sign of just how powerful and radical the middle way is!