Patience and persistence are required to ensure that the “golden rule” is not turned on its head by S² autocrats or (in current times) by S² technocrats. Higher-order problem-solving and decision-making are also required. Those who are seeking to preserve the “golden rule” must appreciate the complexity of current political realties (relativism). However, they must move beyond this reflective perspective to a commitment-in-the-midst-of relativism. They must assume a position of advocacy and apply constructive political leveraging to the current situation. One of these strategies, for instance, is the identification and persuasive representation of a specific downside of the current S² polarity. A narrative can be offered of the personal damage done to a citizen who has been victimized by the gold.
The polarity management recommendations just made are not easily enacted—especially when the stakes are high and when stress is abundant. As Johnson and others engaged in polarity management have noted, effective management of polarities requires a constant process of vigilance, negotiation, and adjustments. Polystasis is required. We must continuously seek and refine a dynamic, flexible balance between the two polarities (in this case, home and quest). Each side’s beneficial contributions can be enjoyed without engendering serious negative consequences. We must accompany this balance with some immediate, tangible correctives if our Polystatic assessments and predictions indicate that our current baseline is no longer appropriate. Specific alarms will ring if we are off base.
Alarm Systems
Barry Johnson has another important point to make regarding the management of polarities. He identifies the value inherent in setting up an alarm system as a safeguard against overshooting either side of the polarity. It would be prudent to build in an alarm system that warns us when we may be trying to maximize one side and are on the verge of triggering negative reactions. The alarm signal for the polarities of home and quest might foster a growing dissatisfaction with either priority. We would observe a struggling system: abundant vacillation, frequent reversal of an existing priority, and very short-term implementation, criticism, and abandonment of revised actions. The signal might also be apparent at a deeper, psychological level. There would be a growing sense of helplessness and hopelessness.
S² (Home) Alarms
Certain alarms are likely to ring when Trust has not been established at home. Without adequate security and safety, one is likely to experience one or more of the three Ss. One will become sleepy or at least not very alert. One’s job becomes routine as does one’s life away from work. It is hard to stay alert when there are no new predictions to make or adjustments to make in one’s baseline. One is sleepy not because of a lack of sleep but because there is no good reason to greet life and work with any enthusiasm. Actually, boredom is often accompanied by long nights of sleep – yet there is always the feeling of being “tired” and just not ‘up to par.”
The second fear (rigidity) is realized when one realizes that they are being very stubborn. “No” is more often stated than “Yes.” There is little tolerance of novelty: “we always take this road when driving home . . . so don’t try anything different!” The term “curmudgeon” is usually applied to old, stubborn folks. It can also be assigned to those who are too young to be ornery or crusty. An alarm blares. It also blares when the third fear (stagnation) is realized. The signal might be a slowing down. We become “sloggy” in our appearance, in our gait and in our relationship with other people. We miss the jokes told by our friends, sit silently when invited to a friends’ house, and don’t have much to say to our spouse or children when they ask how we are doing. It is hard for us to keep up with the fast pace of the mid-21st Century. Suddenly all three signals unite: we are sleepy, stubborn and very slow. Something must change!
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