The idea of opposites
The conflict of forces and the struggle of opposing wills are the essence of our universe and alone hold it together — Havelock Ellis
Yin and Yang, Day and Night, Summer and Winter, North and South. Everywhere you see, there is an opposite. And this is what brings balance to life. I will use a small example, from our learnings, and growing up days, to throw some more light on this topic.
As kids, teachers often taught us to dive into the details of every concept, idea, process, and operation. If we study history, we have to go into the details of world war, which country attached when Baltic nations and what not.
However, as adults, we are told that we need to take a step back, and observe the larger picture. Haven’t we all come across this phrase at some point of our quarter life crisis? So, ask yourself, which is it? Go into the depth and detail, or take a step back and observe the bigger picture.
Let me now answer that for you! Going into the details is mandatory, and important. Till we don’t get into the depth of things, be it studies, work, relations or anything for that matter. We won’t be able to appreciate the complexity of the things, and learn from the same. However, the catch is to not get so deep into the thick of things, that we forget to take a step back, and observe the larger picture. Taking a step back helps us with a holistic view, brings a lot of angles and aspects into perspective, and this helps us prioritize and visualize better.
How many of us are caught up in our day to day work, operations, challenges? Be it starting up (which seems to be the fad these days), or in our jobs, or in our personal lives? I am so caught up in our day to day operations, of running from pillar to post, that I myself forget to detach, and attach again from a distance.
Once I take a step back, so many things come into the picture — health, work out, food, meetings friends, talking to the larger family. We get so caught up in the tiniest of our problems, that we forget that there are things around us, equally or more important, in front of which, the day to day things lose value. Or rather, the larger picture prepares us better, mentally, to deal with the day to day challenges and obstacles.
Recently, I was driving to work, and like any other day, my mind was occupied with things to do at work — follow up with customers, set processes on the shopfloor, interact with x-functional teams, oversee operational challenges. Take stock of cash flow. I ended up calling a friend of mine, and we ended up speaking for over 30 min (during my drive). Talking to him made me realize that at the end of the day. We are both grateful for being in the prime of health, for having an above average means to support ourselves, great partners and family to share our lives with. And, in front of this realization, all the menial, detailed, in-depth worries melted away.
Hence, I say, while it is important to go in depth to understand complexity. It is equally important to step back, and look at an uber view. As kids, we are taught that it is important to go into depth, and while growing up, we are asked to take a step back? How about we realize that both are important, as start doing either based on our mind frame, and requirement of the hour?
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