 Goggles/Extremes/Tightrope
[quote=pi11;790]
I personally have always tried to strike a balance between all the extremes that life presents. I dabble in both extremes. Living life on the fence (but not in a bad way). Buddhists call it the 'middle way', [...]
Someone taught me to look at the metaphors with which I describe
my situation.
In response to the metaphor about gradients, we see the 'middle-way'
promulgated, which is a time-honoured tradition.
Then we see 'dabbling in the extremes' and tightrope metaphors. These,
to me, imply a triad: a) extreme #1, b) opposite extreme #2, c) the knife's
edge between balancing between the two extremes.
The nature of a gradient, by contrast is smooth. It isn't a balance.
It isn't categorical. It is incremental. You have 10% black and white,
and 90% grey, all of which is available to you -- without dabbling
in the extremes.
So, can you give a new relationship the benefit of the doubt *and*
remain safe? Certainly.
Can you work with a harmful person, and remain unharmed?
Most of the time, you can!  |