One of the most profound phrases I have heard from one of my teachers is: “What’s true on one level is true on all levels.”
The immense possibility in this statement is also where the immense danger resides. As the concept of “truth” is multi-faceted and is over-used in situations where it’s not appropriate. The type of truth that I am referring to here is the kind that is proven to be true after experiencing and experimenting and observing it arise as the most probable truth with the information and understanding we currently have. The kind of truth that when you use it as a mental model in other complex areas of existence, it illuminates with resonance and fluidity, perhaps even opening new perspectives that weren’t viewable before.
Another important aspect of this is to include space for the assumption that you could be wrong. Regardless of how true it feels, or how true it appears, or how perfectly the parts seem to align at any point in time, we keep ourselves humble and open to continue learning and bringing in new information by always allowing space and celebration for being wrong, to re-think, and think again. As another common adage I love goes: “Admitting we are wrong is simply admitting we are more right than we were yesterday.”
So with that being said, the “truth” I am interested in exploring today is the notion of “as with-in, so with-out.” In what context am I referring to?
The world as we see it is a reflection of our inner world. This is not to excuse behaviour that is unjust, or excuse ourselves from an important cultural uprising as if it's just as illusion. Rather, this is a broader perspective that is inclusive to recognizing that yes, it is illusive and a reflection of our inner worlds, AND, we are alive, material beings and it is important to contribute and be a part of our small and wider world communities. This is a Both/And scenario.
The reason why I am inspired to write and explore this at this point in time is because I get the sense that there are far too many people who are more aligned with the material world and seeing the problem as “out there,” outside of themselves, and not seeing that an important part of the work is doing a U-turn with that finger and getting curious about what’s going on inside.
As with-in, so with-out.
You most likely have had the experience of feeling like there is a part of you that doesn’t have your best interest in mind. We call these parts the saboteur or the addiction, and we describe them negatively with characteristics like impulsive, grandiose, weak, overbearing, cowardice, fearful, anxious….to name a few. They are the parts that steer us towards thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are out of alignment with who we think we truly are or what we desire for ourselves and our lives. They are the parts that we are frustrated with, confused by or infuriated with. We try to avoid or subdue, or excuse or blame on external conditions.
And yet, when you turn towards these parts, listen, hold space for their stories of how they got their role, the fears, pain and intense emotions they are trying to protect your system from, the beliefs they carry about what’s possible, and the general sense of isolation and burden they carry, something magical happens. Compassion and understanding changes the relationships in your system. These parts start to recognize that we all have a common goal, that they don’t have to carry these burdens on their own, and in fact, can release them and step back into a more flexible, supportive and freedom filled existence where their attributes are needed and appreciated and no longer demonized. The magic is in the generous listening, and that requires a connection with the wise adult within, the historically taught Higher Self, the loving witness that provide consistent loving with-ness.
As with-in, so with-out.
We humans all want the same thing, and some are carrying more burdens for all kinds of unjust reasons, and act, think and believe in service of protecting their fears and their most vulnerable parts. Of course they do! We all do this. There may be a surface level illusion of separation as we express our different experiences, and hear different beliefs, opinions, and labels used to create silos and othering, AND, we can include that while seeing past that.
Look for the parts in you that are doing the best that they can with the information, resources and support that they have to protect what is feared and what feels like intense vulnerability in the system, and then remember that this is the common human condition. Blaming or othering or putting others down to make ourselves feel more right is not the way through. Step back. Slow down to be compassionate with every part within you, and that will lead the way to the pervasive compassion within and between all of us. Love and compassion are not simply passive, forgiving and soft, they are fierce, full of accountability, persistent, and passionate for justice.
As with-in, so with-out.
xoxox