8 Strange but True Paradoxes In Life
Carl Jung once said: “Only the paradox comes anywhere near to comprehending the fullness of life.”
I agree with this sentiment.
That’s why I am inspired to share this list of 7 paradoxes with you as each honours the complexity of life while showcasing its nuance.
1. The Fear Paradox
Oftentimes, the thing we fear most is the thing we need to face.
Until I confronted my fear of being seen and heard, I lived with anxiety for 20 years. It was only when I went into my fear that I could begin to set myself free. It’s scary but I saw how suppressing it was affecting my mental health and stunting my growth so I decided to take action.
The most successful people I know make a habit of running towards theirfear and overcoming it.
The older I get, the more willing I am to do the same.
2. The Advice Paradox
Most advice misses the mark and it’s often shared without permission. Most of the time I just want someone to say, “That sucks, man. I’m sorry.” Without giving any advice at all.
Oftentimes, the best advice comes from the person who doesn’t give any.
“Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.” — Baz Lurhmann
3. The Boredom Paradox
Some of my best ideas have come when I’ve been bored out of my mind or have been so far away from my laptop that inspiration strikes. During these times, my mind can wander and as a result, my thoughts become more interesting.
The boredom paradox inspires me to schedule boredom into my week whenever I can.
4. The Social Media Paradox
More connectedness = less connected.
The best antidote to the modern world is to get around people, spend quality time with humans, and feel the warmth of community.
The social media paradox only exists online. Offline there’s a whole world of goodness to explore.
5. The Failure Paradox
Michael Jordan brilliantly said:
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
All successful people know that in order to succeed they must fail a bunch of times. When failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and grow, everything changes.
6. The Talking Paradox
Talking less often means there’s more to say because the opposite of talking is listening.
Listening has become a superpower these days.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus
7. The Money Paradox
The best way to make money is to spend money.
The whole money game changed for me when I realised that money can either work for me (through investments) or not at all (if I let it sit in a bank).
Since then I’ve changed my approach to money and acquired a number of financial assets.
The Beginner’s Paradox
The Beginner's Paradox
I recently came across a cartoon that I love:
My favourite line: "I think it will start poorly, but who knows how it will end."
This is the Beginner's Paradox: to get good at something, first we have to learn. And that learning process can be bumpy, full of mistakes, and a lot of patience.
However, some of the most successful people I know embrace this feeling because they know that every expert once started out as a beginner.
So, remember: You have to start poorly to end well. Or as Zig Ziglar brilliantly said: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."