Letting go of black and white thinking

It's seductive to view the world in black and white categories and, sadly, our current culture in the United States supports this. But, in fact, the world and its people are not so neatly divided. Learning to appreciate the many shades of gray is part of what it means to grow emotionally and spiritually. I found a wonderful quote by Jack Kornfield on this subject. It's from A Path With Heart:

As one matures in spiritual life, one becomes more comfortable with paradox, more appreciative of life's ambiguities, its many levels and inherent conflicts. One develops a sense of life's irony, metaphor, and humor and a capacity to embrace the whole, with its beauty and outrageouness, in the graciousness of the heart.

This is about letting go of rigidity and learning to be deeply open and flexible in our attitude toward ourselves and others. Make it something of a game: See how many different ways you can find to look at various issues. You don't need to approve of or agree with a point of view to recognize it as a point of view. Notice then how this capacity helps you be more open and accepting of people and situations even if they don't represent your preference. Notice, too, how this gives you greater peace of mind.