Finding Equilibrium
The autumn equinox is just a few weeks away, and its approach has me musing on the idea of equilibrium. The word equilibrium comes from the Latin words for equal and balance, and it originally meant “a well-balanced state of mind.” Our bodies, all of nature, and life itself are full of opposing forces - hot and cold, light and dark, sun and moon, masculine and feminine, work and rest, logic and intuition, love and fear…
All of these opposing forces are ultimately designed to complement one another and bring balance to our world, but finding that balance can be challenging, to say the least. When I hear the word balance, I tend to think of a two-sided scale with equal weight on each side, sitting perfectly still. But I don’t think that’s how balance - equilibrium - actually plays out in the real world.
It is much more about allowing the highs and the lows, the ebb and flow, the seasons and chapters of our lives to play out without getting stuck. Imbalance happens when we have too much of one thing and not enough of its opposite. For instance, is there too much work and not enough rest in your life? Is there too much linear, masculine, “doing” energy and not enough intuitive, feminine, “being” energy? Is there too much forcing and not enough allowing? Is there too much giving and not enough receiving? Is there too much movement and not enough stillness? Too much noise and not enough silence?
Signs that you may be struggling with an imbalance somewhere in your life include:
A sense of overwhelm
Feeling highly irritable or reactive
Fatigue
Mystery symptoms or chronic, unresolving health issues
Difficulty focusing or making decisions
Feeling socially or spiritually disconnected
If you are noticing that something is out of balance, it is well worth taking the time to reflect on where and how that imbalance is showing up. Notice how it is affecting you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Think about what the opposing force is to the imbalance you are stuck in. How can you gently welcome that opposite force or quality into your life? Think about the people, places, and practices that might bring about a sense of equilibrium - a more balanced state of mind. What could you let go of, and what could you welcome in instead?
Our bodies, our world, and life itself are dynamic, constantly shifting and changing. There will never be any one thing that keeps us in perfect balance all the time. It is our task to learn how to adapt by accepting those changes, getting curious, and discovering how we can adjust to move gracefully through them.
Do you need help bringing your health into balance? Contact Sage Wellness Center today and discover how we can help you address ALL dimensions of well-being in an integrated way!