Opposites Attract: An introvert and an extrovert walk into a bar, or bedroom…
The extrovert says, “how was your day, what did you do today, want to fool around, want to read a book with me, want to paint the bedroom, let’s watch a movie (and then talk about the movie), on and on and on and on.”
The introvert says…well, nothing. He just wants to be quiet and reflect.
What if the introvert and the extrovert are both parts of you. Both wanting to be acknowledged. Opposites within us are as necessary as those we experience outside ourselves. Opposites Attract! What do they attract? Awareness, peace, compassion, love (of self and other).
It is the darkness that allows the light to shine through, the light that brings out the depth and beauty of the dark. It is the softness that calms the hard places, the hardness that strengthens the soft. There is no magnetic north without magnetic south. Opposites attract for a reason.
You are both an extrovert and an introvert (although you most likely identify more strongly with one or the other). Those parts, along with many others that make you the wonderful person you are, are always present. Learning to honor the depths of you.
This depth creates wholeness. To paraphrase psychologist, Carl Jung, I’d rather be whole than good. This means embracing all parts of who you are, acknowledging the good and the bad, at times feeling sad while other times feeling happy, tuning into when you want to be social or when you want alone time. Acknowledging, even honoring, inner darkness (sadness, pain, judgmental feelings, jealousy, anger, hatred) can enhance inner light (joy, forgiveness, love, compassion).
Take a moment to acknowledge all the different emotions you have felt in the last 24 hours.
- Appreciate the totality of who you are.
- When a feeling surfaces that you don’t want, know that it serves a purpose. Sit with it. Allow it to be, it will pass.
- When feelings surface that you like. Appreciate them. Do more that brings those feelings into being.
Jan facilitates national workshops for therapists and life coaches. She presents at conferences on topics related to holistic psychology and living your dreams.
