ZeroGrav – Sep 2018 – Opposites Attract / Like Attracts Like, a Paradox

‘Opposites Attract’ is one of those terms or cliche phrases which has been around forever, and as such is assumed to be true.  It is the go-to phrase when there are two unlike people in a relationship or friendship which seem to be getting along splendidly.  i.e. An introverted person and extroverted person, or a tall person and a short person, a loud friend and a quiet friend.  Secondarily in other categories, not so much an attraction, but rather a combination of unlike things that compliment one another well – Salt and pepper, cold ice cream on a hot day, peanut butter and jelly; Thirdly from a scientific view – Hydrogen and oxygen, north and south pole, negative and positive charges (or does polarity and magnetism not actually fall within this scope?).

Then we have the phrase ‘Birds of a feather flock together’, or if you would prefer less stock truisms and to just get straight to the point, like attracts like.  Perhaps this is general common sense in that it universally seems true, not only in relationships however in life and nature in general, examples follow:

• If you aspire to play hockey, spend time on the ice and with hockey players
• If you want to become a scientist, work in a lab and gain scientific experience
• If there is a turkey roaming the woods, it is likely roaming with other turkeys
• If you spot a dolphin swimming, there are likely other dolphins nearby

There are basically infinite examples of like attract like, it seems to be an undeniable truth.  One of the most powerful examples I have read about which helps to visualize the concept is a radio tuner.  If you want to listen to sports radio, tune to the sports radio station.  If you want to hear classical music, tune to the classical music station.  And so on.  Our minds are the same, when we focus on something, we are essentially sending out vibrations to the universe, and ‘tuning in’ to the subject or desired outcome.  The speed and velocity at which the outcome arrives will vary dependent on how what it is we are asking for, and how strongly we feel about it, however it will absolutely arrive given time.

So how can Opposites Attract and Like Attracts Like both be true, is this an apparent contradiction or are there greater forces at work?

I would venture to conclude that while Like Attracts Like is fact, and is regularly proven again and again throughout time as a natural law, that Opposites Attract does hold merit.  Perhaps we should say ‘Opposites Appeal’, or even ‘Opposites Strongly Appeal’.  Haha.  While the saying does not appear to be a literal fact, in matters of heart and relationship does seem to be very powerful and effective. I would observe the ‘opposites’ come into play when two people have traits that are very unlike one another, which causes a spark that will in turn either ignite a strong repulsion or attraction, and if the latter will lead to two individuals (or one couple, or one pair of friends) who are both more open-minded, open-hearted, and well-rounded as a result.  And after digging in and learning more about one another, finding similar values at the core, and realizing that at the end of the day we are all the same.

Diversity of thought, For The Win, in 2018.

Cheers,

z3r0