For most of my life, I’ve identified as a person of depth. Complexity energizes me. Whether diving into interpersonal dynamics or untangling the threads of inner life, I’ve relied on going deeper as my go-to strategy. It’s served me well—until it hasn’t. Any strength overused can become a weakness, and in recent years, I’ve noticed some diminishing returns. The more I’ve leaned into depth, the more I’ve felt stuck in certain areas of my life.
Carl Jung’s concept of the “tension of opposites” offers a way forward. He believed that growth arises not from doubling down on what we already do well, but from embracing its opposite. The pendulum within us swings between extremes—introversion and extraversion, feeling and thinking, action and reflection. Jung suggested:
The key to wholeness lies in allowing the pendulum to swing and integrating the parts of ourselves we’ve left unexplored.
For me, this means leaning into simplicity. Life is undeniably complex, and my instinct has always been to dig deeper into that complexity for answers. But today, I feel called to the opposite. To simplify. To focus on what’s clear and straightforward. It’s humbling—and uncomfortable. Simplicity feels almost foreign to me, like wearing someone else’s shoes. Yet, I sense that this is where my growth lies.
As Carl Rogers writes, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Embracing the opposite doesn’t mean abandoning who we are; it means expanding who we are. Simplicity doesn’t negate depth. It complements it, bringing balance and a new dimension to my experience.
So, here’s the invitation:
Where have you been stuck? What strategies or tendencies do you keep returning to, hoping they’ll eventually work? If you’re deeply intuitive, could you experiment with facts and data? If you’re always reflecting, might it be time for action? And if you’re perpetually doing, what would it feel like to pause and reflect?
This isn’t about abandoning your strengths. It’s about exploring the other side to grow more whole. As the pendulum swings, you might find surprising gifts waiting for you.
For now, I’m letting the pendulum swing toward simplicity. I know I’ll return to depth someday, but I’ll come back changed—broader, fuller, and more balanced. What about you? What might the opposite of your usual approach reveal?
