Differences

I was participating in a discussion forum a couple weeks ago and someone asked about the opportunities that come with being different.? There were a lot of opinions about that, of course, speaking to the value of recognizing your unique individuality.

I would NEVER argue for conformity for the sake of conformity and also not for being different for the sake of being different.

It brings to mind the Chinese Yin/Yang symbol, a little white in the black and a little black in the white.? I started to think about value of recognizing both- what makes us unique the same time honoring what we have in common with other people.

It can be hard to hold both, so how can we practice being better at that?? I like to go back to a practice that I have used a lot.? It is the examination of what all human beings need from the really basic things like food, water and shelter to feeling accepted, valued and respected.?

When we can recognize that we share common needs, then how we express our relationship with those needs becomes our individuality.?

This week, take a look at your first response to someone who expresses themselves differently than you.? Not how you think you should respond but how you actually respond viscerally.? Approach that with curiosity.? What can you learn?