---
title: "And, Also: A Tool for Holding Complexity"
description: "One of our values at Soil and Shadow is complexity - the ability to hold non-dual, polar truths simultaneously. \nA tool we use with our clients is called.."
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---

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 Sep 7, 2022, 12:11:14 PM

# And, Also: A Tool for Holding Complexity

![Picture of Nikki Silvestri](https://soilandshadow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nikki%20headshot%20blog%20png.png?width=50&name=nikki%20headshot%20blog%20png.png) [Nikki Silvestri](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/author/nikki-silvestri)

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#### Personal Check In

##### It's HOT. The Editor in Chief of The Week Magazine wrote that we can't deny climate change is real anymore. Have we, as a country, and as a species, come to grips with the fact that these heat waves mean climate change is here? What do you think? I need some group discussion!

 

### And, Also: A Tool for Holding Complexity

- One of our values at Soil and Shadow is complexity - the ability to hold non-dual, polar truths simultaneously.
- A tool we use with our clients is called "And, Also"
  
    - Step 1: Pick a topic. The example I used in the vlog is the relationship between personal accountability and systemic discrimination, specifically applied to me as a Black Woman
    - Step 2: Say a belief, fact or opinion you hold about the topic.
    - Step 3: Say, "and, also..." and add a second belief, fact or opinion you hold about the topic that feels contradictory to the first. (I demonstrate in the vlog - I recommend you **watch/listen**, I went deep with this one.)
    - Step 4: Repeat until you reach an organic pause. This exercise never ends, but there's usually an insight that occurs that allows for a pause.
- This tool trains your brain to hold complexity without immediate reconciliation or action - a necessary precursor to inclusive, equitable work.
- Note: Use this as a personal leadership tool. I do not recommend using this tool with a team without further instruction or facilitation. I find that teams will either choose a very difficult topic to begin, or a topic they have trouble discovering complexity within. A facilitator/instruction supports staying on the growth edge of "safe" complexity that stretches without harm. If you'd like to work with our team on this and other tools, you can [**schedule a call**](https://meetings.hubspot.com/nikki-silvestri/zoom-meeting-with-nikki).

[Complexity](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/complexity), [Tools Used for Clients](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/tools-used-for-clients), [Soil and Shadow Values](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/soil-and-shadow-values), ["and, also"](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/and-also), [Hold Complexity](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/hold-complexity), [Inclusive Work](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/inclusive-work), [Facilitator](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/facilitator), ["Safe" Complexity](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/safe-complexity), [Tools](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/tools), [Climate Change](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/climate-change), [Equitable Work](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/equitable-work), [Personal Leadership Tool](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tag/personal-leadership-tool)

## Blog comments

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## [3 Things To Remember When Giving Feedback](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/3-things-to-remember-when-giving-feedback)

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 Aug 31, 2022, 6:00:00 AM

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## [Tulsa, Facilitation and Communities of Practice](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/tulsa-facilitation-and-communities-of-practice)

![Picture of Nikki Silvestri](https://soilandshadow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nikki%20headshot%20blog%20png.png?width=50&name=nikki%20headshot%20blog%20png.png) [Nikki Silvestri](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/author/nikki-silvestri) 

 Apr 10, 2023, 5:14:31 PM

Personal Check In: I went to Tulsa, OK last week to visit Vonda Vaden Bates (our collaborator here...

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## [Emotional Load and Biodiversity](https://soilandshadow.com/soil-and-shadow-blog/emotional-load-and-biodiversity)

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 Apr 18, 2023, 4:08:41 PM

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