You should have more than one tool in your toolbox. Sometimes you need tweezers to remove a splinter, and if you just have a hammer, it might not do the job.
Empire Builders and Humanists
There are empire builders and there are humanists. There is
a place for both in the course of events. A humanist will always put people and
the relationship first. An empire builder has to be hard sometimes, and must
believe that sometimes you must break eggs to make an omelet. A friend recently said to me
that firing a less than competent worker is acceptable, but cutting employee benefits
is not. Sometimes both might be necessary to keep a business afloat.
Balance
As a
healer, I usually put people first, but I might not succeed in business. A
business endeavor can have opportunities to foster much good in the world,
which might not be possible without sometimes sacrificing that which might seem
the kindest path. These are places where keeping one’s balance can indeed be
difficult. Whichever path is taken, it is always important not to lose our
balance by forgetting the other side and that it also has its its proper place.
Our T’ai Chi practice evolves more than just the physical.
As we work on our physical balance this generalizes within us so that our
Emotional, Intellectual, and Spiritual balance also improves and evolves.
As we become more aware of our physical balance, we become
harder to knock over emotionally. When someone treats us roughly, we are more
likely not to take it so personally and lose sight of the big picture. Instead
of thinking “They offended me”, it might be recognized that the problem is
theirs, not ours, and perhaps we can then move on rather than getting stuck
there. (Sometimes it is ours also, but not always).
The ability not to lose our spiritual balance is also
strengthened by our practice. This can be likened to the emotional and physical
arenas in that whether we are right or wrong, getting stuck and losing our balance
often doesn’t help the situation. Seeing clearly, (without prejudice or
filters) all of the parts, is essential to balancing the whole body. This
includes the parts we don’t necessarily agree with. Just as in our body, the things that are hardest to change are those which we don’t see.
When we each achieve inner peace, then peace in the world
has a better chance to arrive. The Work always begins within.
Blessings to All,
Daniel
Daniel
