Polarities
Over the past year, we have witnessed a polarity of experiences from our pandemic. On one end, there are people whose lives have slowed to a crawl—creating a quiet internal world with room to expand, percolate, and creatively engage. Also in this space is solitude that can turn to deep loneliness, separation and isolation.
Opposite of that experience are people whose lives are twice as busy as they were before Covid struck. These are the frontline heroes and heroines, and also, a large group of people fulfilling the responsibilities of their lives, day after day, as best as they can.
It is fascinating to be in conversation with someone who is having the opposite experience, as well as those having a similar experience. We typically feel truth in what matches our own reality, on our own end of the polarity.
Turning an eye toward finances, we’ve seen stellar rises in equity markets where financial wealth continues to increase for those who have allocated resources into these opportunities. Most, if not all, of you reading this article fall into this polarity of investors. The opposite situation is also true. Many people do not experience this kind of financial wealth increase because they do not or cannot allocate financial resources into company stock.
Polarities exist in all areas of our lives—education, health care, manufacturing—to name a few. Recognizing these polarities exist is a beginning for developing perspective. As much as our individual experience is compelling and real and our truth, there is always another experience to honor. Gaining perspective enables us to grow in awareness, increase options, expand empathy, and improve relationships.
In financial planning, recognizing the polarities in all areas of our lives—”the opposite is also true”—enables us to ask better questions, bring our motivation to the situation, include our what-if dreams, and activate our unique form of generosity.
As we continue to navigate Covid, whether you have had your vaccine or not, whether you have slowed down or not, whether you are participating in the market upswing or not, whether you are fully immersed in your financial planning or not, let’s receive the lessons this challenging period has offered, and choose to benefit from an expanded view, with a long-term horizon.
