It’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos of modern life. The constant barrage of information and expectations can blind you to what matters. If you’re like me, you fall into cycles of figuring things out and then getting distracted and forgetting again. A pattern of alternating between actively pursuing something and then being interrupted and stopping. Is this natural?

Growth in Nature

Nothing in nature grows at the same rate continuously. Growth left unchecked is problematic. When a species grows uncontrollably, it endangers the ecosystem. When cells in a body grow ceaselessly, they’re considered cancerous. Natural growth comes in spurts and seasons.

This balance of growing sometimes and not other times is related to dualism. Dualism is the conceptual division of things into opposing or contrasting aspects, such as tall and short, good and bad, etc. This concept of contrast is a fundamental aspect of physical reality.

Dualism as the Basis for Physical Reality

For a physical thing to exist, there must be some way to tell it apart. The only way to tell it apart is for there to be a contrast between that thing and everything else. That contrast is the origin of dualism, yet it only gets more complicated the more things there are. Our reality, which has countless things, bears a near-infinite complexity.

For growth to exist, there must also be its opposite: decay. For there to be light, there must be dark. For there to be beauty, there must be ugly. Everything must balance itself out. It’s a yin-yang situation. This balance also exists within you.

Finding Balance

To grow, you must have something to grow from. To become fulfilled, you must first feel a lack of fulfillment. To feel happy, you must also know what sadness feels like. Dualism is squarely divided between good and bad, with each supporting the other in perfect balance. Yet, the real wisdom comes when you see that both sides are good because dualism as a whole is good. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to live your life!

Since dualism is good, there’s no shame in being on one side or another. It’s ok to lose yourself because then you can find yourself again. It’s okay not to be okay because it allows you to learn to feel better again. Flipping between each side of dualism expands your perspective and makes learning possible.

If you’re feeling lost, take it as an opportunity to find yourself again. Avoid staying stuck with that feeling—learn from it and move forward. By zooming out and seeing the wholeness of your life, you’ll be able to appreciate your position no matter what situation you find yourself in.