And What Else Is Going On?
For decades Jim and I have used a way of thinking about a situation that has helped us combine a position of standing back from it, with reflectively looking at as many of its facets as seem relevant. We have frequently asked ourselves and each other, “And what else is going on?” That is, to keep adding more to the picture until it feels clear enough. This way, we have been able to include the components of various positions and perspectives more easily.
As an example, last fall I read a well researched book in which many European anti-American views about the United States in general, and its specific actions both before and after 9/11/01, were presented and rebutted by the author, who is a U.S. citizen living in Europe. As I read the European perspectives and the author’s defense of U.S. values, beliefs, and actions, I felt some resonance with portions of what each side was saying. To my mind, by standing back while looking for the clearest picture I can put together, I’m able to go beyond taking a side and needing to defend it. It was like taking my camera and expanding its field of vision.
At the same time, I also realized that unless one has formulated an expanded, steady-enough identity that goes beyond cultural programming, just about the only viable options one has in our current-day world are: to be on one side or the other, protecting one's beliefs and cultural identity; believe that all belief structures are equal and to be tolerated in a multicultural sense, ignoring their results and interactions with other belief structures; or not be involved at all.
Of course there are exceptions. On December 19, 2006, on NPR I listened to a conversation Diane Rehm had with three women—a Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian—who had put a lot of effort into understanding their own and each other’s religions. They had not avoided some of the “thorny” issues and their own feelings during the discussions. Then from their experiences, they co-wrote a book titled The Faith Club. As I listened, I heard them and their ideas as stepping stones from where we are today as a global species to what I think of as healthier realities, when these types of more comprehensive Understandings are realized and put into practice.
Asking, “What else is going on?” has worked well as I listen to and experience myself and other people, in terms of seeing that everyone has a psyche that includes multiple patterns and belief/emotion constructions. As I look at each of us, some of these energy constructions are brought forth center stage at times, while others can come forth at other times. Nonetheless, I think they all can be influential to some extent. Then enlarging that picture, as I stated earlier I believe we humans are basically multidimensional spirit-beings, with portions of ourselves in various matrixes and wavelengths, no matter what belief structures we are using amidst our daily lives.
Since one of my focuses as a spirit-being is potency, I feel potent when I take the time to be aware of what I-as-an-expanding-being am doing, and I consciously select and construct which patterns I’m responsible for energizing.
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