Splits
Excistence is beyond and embracing all dualities.
When awareness identifies with its content and functions in a more dualistic way, there are splits. And these splits take the form of projections which appear in different ways.
Thoughts
In terms of thoughts, we tend to believe in one set of thoughts (mutually consistent or not) and ignore or dismiss their opposites. We are stuck in a particular and limited view of Existence, and this brings suffering whenever Existence behaves in a way that does not correspond to the view.
One way of working with this is to take any thought (statement), turn it around in any way possible (to ourselves, others, its opposite), and find how each of these new statements are as true as the original. In this way, we loosen up attachment to one limited view and open up for a more comprehensive, inclusive and fluid relationship to the different views.
It may also allow us to let go of beliefs (attachments to thoughts) altogether, and allow awareness to become aware of itself as distinct from its content.
Characteristics
Related to this, we tend to see certain characteristics in the inner world (in ourselves), and their opposites in the outer world (in others). This split allows us to experience a strong difference between the outer and inner world. It defines our self-image, which in turn defines what we allow ourselves to experience in the inner world and to express in our behavior. This self-image is formed through culture, subcultures and personal experiences, and is always in flux as everything else.
One of the consequences of this split, is that we relate to characteristics in ourselves and others with attraction and aversion. These function as a glue that binds our attention to whatever we are not yet completely familiar and comfortable with in ourselves, so we have the opportunity to become more familiar and comfortable with it.
When desired characteristics are seen in ourselves, we experience satisfaction, joy, gratitude, self-confidence, arrogance. When undesired characteristics are seen in ourselves, we experience sadness, guilt, depression, blame, anger, frustration. When desired characteristics are seen in others, we experience attraction, love, envy, greed. When undesired characteristics are seen in others, we experience criticism, righteousness, anger, hatred.
Also here, a way to work with this is to turn it around. Whenever I see a characteristic in the outer world (a person, landscape, dream, story, fairy tale), independent on whether I relate to it with attraction, aversion or indifference, I can explore how this characteristic is also there in the inner world, in myself. Is it there as only a potential, or more alive and unfolded? How does it express itself in my everyday life? How do I relate to it? From where did I learn this way of relating to it? What consequences does this way of relating to it have in my everyday life? How would my everyday life be different if I was more familiar with this characteristic in myself? How would my self-image change?
As we see in ourselves what we see in others, we become more familiar and comfortable with these characteristics, and form a more inclusive and fluid self-image. We open up for more awareness in how to relate to these characteristics in ourselves and others, and for genuine empathy with ourselves and others. We know from ourselves what we see in them. We see ourselves and others as universally human, as life manifesting.