Puzzle of the Paradox

Life in the 21st century is a constant bombardment of paradoxical nuances. And life’s paradoxes will never let us be free until we embrace them. What is a paradox? It is a seemingly contradicting statement that is true. The tussle between the heart and mind makes a paradox more perplexing than apparent. This leads to confusion which impairs our judgment, because a paradox comes with a choice — the choice to decide how your life is going to be.

We are constantly striving for a balanced life. The knowledge we seek is in the wisdom of a paradox. In it hide the benefits that will give us the skills to improve our lives. Look at some examples of paradoxes: Playing safe is dangerous; the more you give, the more you receive; a penny saved is a penny earned. Another interesting paradox is that though work has become more mechanised to save on time and increase productivity, we work more hours now than we used to.

Each paradox might mean different things to different individuals. But each lesson can awaken the individual’s own genius and capabilities. To break the chain of our personal paradox, we need to see the possibility behind the situation. Our level of personal mastery will indicate how much we understand the nuances of a paradox. The linear thoughts of a person’s left brain will not enjoy dealing with a paradox. Balance it out with the right brain and you will see the bigger picture.

Make a decisive choice and believe in your capabilities. Have the courage to face the uncertainty and do what is right. There is no answer to a paradox because it was never a problem to start with.
Let us now look at the benefits of a paradox. How can it be an asset for you at your workplace as well as at home? Here are some examples:

Balance

Achieving balance is paramount in studying paradoxes. Overindulgence in one area will mean neglect in another. For example, our body works on balance. Though we need oxygen to live, breathing in too much of it could be harmful.

Observe your daily actions and keep a journal of how you get a balance in your life. Can your highest happiness also be the cause of your unhappiness? Reflect on what could be done better in the future. Constantly remind yourself that to achieve a balanced life, you need to know what causes the imbalance at the first place.

Leadership

Paradoxes bring out the best in us. As such, they will groom us to be better leaders. A leader who can see beyond the haze will be able to guide others. A leader who knows that his strengths can also be his weaknesses is more aware of himself and his environment. Conversely, a leader who is blindly courageous can lead his team to disaster. A leader who has a grasp of paradox will develop his inner wisdom and see a bigger picture of each situation he faces. Trust your intuition and execute your decision confidently.

Creativity

A paradox is like a puzzle waiting to be solved. It creates a situation that allows the mind to question possibilities. Ambiguity and confusion are important factors that force us to think outside of the box.
Be true to your creative genius and be open to ideas that are put forward. Recycled old ideas will not be effective in handling a new paradox. Stretch your mind and look beyond the norm. Let the creative tension be an inner motivation towards your goal.

Innovation

How can we keep cool in hot weather ? That could be one of the questions that was asked before the air conditioner was invented. Questions on a paradox lead to innovative thinking that will bring out new ideas which can change the world. All we need is to kickstart our creative mind.
List an everyday problem that you face and think of ways to solve it. Think of an ultimate machine. What will it be like? The more challenging the paradox machine is, the more your mind will stretch to
create a solution.

Confidence

Knowing what a paradox is will give you the confidence to face challenges. You will see that each issue always has its pros and cons. When you list them out and weigh the consequences, you can observe that there can always be a win-win solution. With this hope comes the confidence and the strength to overcome obstacles. Never forget to give yourself due credit with every paradoxical challenge you overcome. It proves that you can overcome a paradox and survive.

Growth

Treat a paradox as a gym exercise for your personal growth. As with any form of growth, you need patience and perseverance. Though the process of growth can be painful, the
rewards will be great.