The Fundamental Polarity of Existence - A Half Full Argument
Navigating our world, with its constant barrage of negative news that underscores the potential for horror, the existential threats we confront, the erosion of social fabric and morality, and the daily stressors, can make maintaining positivity an uphill battle. As I've aged, I've come to realize that the answer doesn't lie in futile attempts to combat, ignore, or brace for everything.
I don't use the term 'futile' lightly. No matter where I've looked—across theories, principles, or experiments—I've discovered that existence is fundamentally driven by polarity. Reality itself is constructed upon this principle of dualities. Everything we know appears to exist between two opposing poles, the extreme ends of a spectrum, regardless of how closely we examine it.
Our natural environment teems with these dualities: life and death, light and darkness, order and chaos. In nature, there are no singular, unchanging states—everything is in continuous fluctuation between extremes, much like the crest and trough of a waveform. Electricity is dictated by positive and negative charges, while fusion and fission power stars. Matter and antimatter annihilate each other in perfect symmetry.
These universal opposites attract, collide, and complement one another in a seemingly eternal dance. By embracing the intrinsic duality of our universe, we find balance in the space between extremes. Darkness helps us cherish light, pain makes us appreciate joy, conflict leads to resolution. Polarity allows life’s full spectrum to unfold.
Power for example, is generated by the positive and negative sides interacting; all the potential lies between those two poles. The same could be said of humans with our myriad differences in politics, religion, and philosophy. It is the existence of an "other side" that defines one's own side. Your opposite gives you form. The presence of hate clarifies your desire for good. The existence of suffering helps you cherish joy.
And so most people and things gravitate towards the middle, the moderate. Once you realize bad events will inevitably happen, you accept good events can happen too. Bad days necessitate good days. We need the contrast of darkness to truly appreciate the light. In the grand scheme, the extremes balance one another out. We cannot force or expect a singular state, it's impossible!
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This is why tolerance and open-mindedness are so important. We must not allow ourselves to become blinded by rigid allegiances and identities. The media often amplifies divisions, but the "opposite" side may be closer to you on a human level than you expect. We all live in a sea of grey.
As a person of Middle Eastern descent, I've found myself welcomed more in some rural parts of Tennessee than in diverse places like Dearborn, Michigan. We should focus on our shared universal values and guidelines - things like human rights, liberty, and environmental stewardship. These should be non-negotiable pillars as we work towards a society that respects our common humanity.
Though different perspectives exist, if we remain fixed on timeless ideals, we can build a world where all people and views have a place. There is wisdom in moderation, in recognizing that life requires balance. If we lose this focus, we risk fueling the extremes. The struggle is reciprocal; the more fiercely we resist, the more it pushes back. And it is tolerance and understanding that bring us back to equilibrium.
By coming to terms with the intrinsic duality of the universe, I've found peace in knowing everything that exists serves a purpose, every piece reflects the whole. Yes, there is darkness, but there is also light.