Balance: The Yin and Yang of Life

BALANCE:
THE YIN AND THE YANG OF LIFE

“If you want the rainbow,

you gotta put up with the rain.”

- Dolly Parton

Rain and rainbow; earth and sky; short and tall; joy and despair. All are examples of the Yin and Yangthe seemingly contradictory, yet complementary forces that make up our lives.

You might be familiar with the Yin/Yang symbol. It’s a circle, half white, half black, which most people think of when they hear the word Tao. Well, as we’ve been discussing, there is much more to the ancient philosophy of the Tao than yin and yang. I’ve already discussed the principles of Tzu-jan (life happenof itself so) and

wu wei (not forcing).

Yet, without understanding the yin and the yang of life, we might all too often get caught up in what we perceive as a negative and fall into the trap of despair.

We begin with the yin and the yang; the world and its opposites. The yin is the female, the dark, the passive; the yang, or the male, is the light, the assertive. These two

forces create each other, as the Tao Te Ching explains so succinctly:

Being and nonbeing create each other.

Difficult and easy support each other.

Long and short define each other.

High and low depend on each other.

Opposites, therefore, are inseparable and form the

philosophy of unity that underlies Taoism.

Even as we know day and night, highs and lows, old and young, sickness and health, we must learn to accept and appreciate each as a necessity for the other. The flip

side of eachyin or yangis not a negative in itself, but allows us to realize the potential within the other. Think about this for a moment. The cute black and white

circular design we often see on Taoist T-shirts, mugs, and greeting cards, which signifies the yin and the yang, shows the two interlocking halves combining to make a whole. The world is made up of these opposing halves. So, too, are our lives. This is a fact of nature which, when fully acknowledged, aids us in our acceptance of life’s ups and downs.

Every day is not upbeat and positive, but we realize that these darker phases will serve to increase our appreciation for the more joyful times. And they may even lead to a new and constructive path on our journeys.

Next up: how to find that balance between the yin and the yang.

C.J. Golden, author of TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN, and the award winning TAO-GIRLS RULE!

is a motivational speaker who travels the country inspiring all with her dynamic spirit and vision

as she helps others explore their unique journeys through life.

She is an increasingly important voice in the field of women’s studies as her message resonates with women and girls everywhere.

Visit CJ and connect with other Tao-Girls and Tao and defiant women at www.taogirl.com