Lessons from Tango

Zoom out to see the whole, or zoom in to see only yourself — the outcomes are different.

Become one with your partner, or remain alone in your own world — the outcomes are different.

Think from your partner’s perspective, or think only of yourself — the outcomes are different.

Strive for shared well-being, or chase personal success — the outcomes are different.

Compromise, or insist — the outcomes are different.

Adapt, or resist — the outcomes are different.

Seek harmony, or seek control — the outcomes are different.

Foster cooperation, or fuel conflict — the outcomes are different.

Find balance, or pursue extremes — the outcomes are different.

Show flexibility, or cling to rigidity — the outcomes are different.

Choose humility, or embrace pride — the outcomes are different.

Act with kindness, or lead with arrogance — the outcomes are different.

Forgive, or hold grudges — the outcomes are different.

Build bridges, or build walls — the outcomes are different.

The first path reflects the nobility of human nature; the second reveals its smallness.

The former — aligned with the spirit of tango — brings peace and beauty.

The latter — rooted in ego and isolation — breeds tension and dissonance.