Nothing is ever as it seems.
This statement serves as gospel at a magic show, in the CIA or during a poker tournament. The illusion is part of the game. A necessary element to achieve the objective.
But while we accept shades of gray in these isolated environments, we fail to consider the greater impact of this phenomenon. Life is full of contradictions that we must not only navigate, but also learn from.
None of us are immune to contradiction. Heck, my advice is full of it.
Consider this: I’ve shared messages of selfless improvements in this space, and then gone and spouted off about the benefits of exercise. Messages like these run against the grain, as exercise is one of the more selfish improvements out there.
Or is it?
You see, no one else besides you directly benefits from exercise. Your body stands to get stronger. Your health and stamina stand to improve. Your chances of living a longer life increase.
But that added time and improved outlook, those open the door to indirect benefits. To more opportunities to connect with others and make an impact.
When you look at it this way, exercise can be classified as a selfish activity that sets a foundation for selfless results.
And this concept of contradiction runs even deeper in our daily lives. Our trust, our love, our attention all have limits — limits directly tied to reciprocity. What’s in it for us is a real concern as we navigate how to assist others, and how to leave the world better than we found it.
Now, I realize that unpeeling this particular onion can be unsettling. It’s not in our DNA to question human nature, and an inward focus has been key to our survival for millennia. After all, there’s a reason why Look Out for Number One has been a rallying cry that’s stood the test of time.
That said, it’s crucial that we get comfortable with this setup in order to build off it. For in a sharing economy, contradictions are opportunities to iterate. They’re opportunities to take an inward-focused concept and apply them in a way the does greater good.
So, we must look beyond black and white. We must consider the silver linings our choices provide in this strange, contradictory world.
When there are none, we should move on. But otherwise, we should feel obligated to act.
For sometimes, what seems like a worthless choice can actually do a world of good.