Podcast Episode Details

(Part 3) Growing Beyond Conflict: The Power of Polarity Thinking for Healing, Thriving, and Becoming Wiser with Barry Johnson & Beena Sharma

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Episode 199

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Ep. 199 (Part 3 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity.

Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025.

“Universal interdependence is the most clear example of divine, unconditional love, and the polarity is the smallest element within universal interdependence—the interdependence of two.”

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3

• Back to stages: from self-interest to harmonizing, to independence, multiperspectivality, and oneness (00:35)
• We are born unique and we become more unique; we are born connected and appreciate being connected more and more (08:23)
• Applying polarity thinking to contemporary politics: immigration (09:29)
• The language of compassionate action (12:08)
• How polarity thinking can help us with the metacrisis (16:02)
• Leveraging polarities in everyday life, socially & culturally (20:11)
• How do we select what to do when faced by an overwhelming amount of choices? (25:42)
• We have to consciously become more competent, more masterful (27:28)
• Polarity tension is always there, and we need to forgive ourselves and others for not always doing a good job with leveraging key polarities, i.e. work & home, self-care & achievement (28:51)

Resources & References – Part 3

• Barry Johnson, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox, or Dilemma
• Barry Johnson, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems
• Beena Sharma, founder Vertical Development Academy (VeDA)
• The 8 Stages of Vertical Development with Beena Sharma (Deep Transformation podcast)
• Richard Rohr,  Published on 9 hours ago