Potential vs limitation.
Opportunitity vs challenge.
Speedbump vs obstacle
You've probably already realised the common thread between these contrasting terms... Yes, all of these terms describe a way of looking at at situation.
One side of the contrast is positive framing.
One side of the contrast is negative framing.
In the middle, between the contrast, is the situation. When it comes down to it, that is all.
If we extend this description into more complex multi-faceted contexts, including situations with multiple variables, the same premise applies.
The situation is still the situation.
Perspective is a function of position and experience, so where you stand on an issue depends on where you sit.
When there are people who have different points of view, the situation is between the alternative perspectives, neutral and without meaning.
When I am sitting on one side of a polarising situation, the idea that the situation is neutral is not easy to conceptualise or accept.
Terms like right and wrong are applied to opinions as if they are self evident.
It can be challenging to accept anothers right to hold an opinion when my perspective is labelled wrong.
Especially when my perspective is labelled wrong.
And yet, the level of difficulty does not have a bearing on the accuracy of the concept.
Perhaps I do not like the concept.
Perhaps I sense a fundamental paradox.
Perhaps I don't want to consider a moral complexity.
Perhaps I don't want to generate an ethical dilemma.
Sometimes these challenges are necessary to review and refine the "way things are", especially when the way things are do not serve me anymore.
You may be thinking: "What is this all about?"
If you have come this far, then it's likely you are curious.
"What is the point?"
The point, at least from my perspective, is that we all have immense power.
The power to see something.
The power to hold an opinion.
The power to take a side.
The power to let someone in.
The power to take it easy.
The power to take it slowly.
The power to forgive and forget.
And of course, these are all ways to look at a situation.
Which brings me to my point:
The experience of seeing something, holding something, letting something go or maintaining something requires a person to possess the thing and then choose to act upon it from a specific direction.
When we acknowledge the power to see something, we acknowledge there is an equal power to ignore it.
When we acknowledge the power to hold an opinion, we acknowledge a power to drop an opinion or hold a different opinion.
When we acknowledge the power to take a side, we acknowledge a power to take a different side or to be neutral.
When we acknowledge the power to let someone in, we acknowledge a power to keep the out.
When we acknowledge the power to take it easy, we acknowledge a power to put in more effort.
When we acknowledge the power to take it slowly, we acknowledge a power to speed things up.
When we acknowledge the power to forgive and forget, we acknowledge a power to hold a grudge, and a power to feel mistreated.
The situation is there before we arrive.
I come from somewhere. So do you.
And my perspective, as I have said before, is a function of position and experience, so I've accumulated experiences and apply these to create a point of view in the moment.
If I come from the same place as you, I would share your perspective.
It would be reasonable to see the world commonly, because I see the stuff that you see and filter it through a similar set of experiences.
But because I have come from a different place that you, I have a different perspective to you.
And this too is reasonable, because I see the the stuff that I see and you see the stuff that you see, and we filter this stuff through our different experiences.
So instead of thinking that I'm wrong, and you are right, or perhaps you are wrong and I'm right, could we consider that you are right from your point of view and I am right from my point of view AND you are wrong from my point of view and I am wrong from your point of view.
It's not this or that.
It's this and that.
And in the middle, waiting quietly between the multitude of perspectives and experiences, is the situation.
Still neutral.
Still without meaning.
Holding an inherent quality of existence without judgement of good or bad.
So where are you?
Are you in the middle, observing the neutrality of the situation.
Or are you looking at this in a different way?
If you are looking at this in a different way, that is good.
You are entitled to that opinion.
Of course, you're wrong...
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