Don’t be so hard on yourself, but do maintain good balance, everything in right measure, not too much, not too little. It’s a tricky proposal but strive to stay aware of where you are at all times, within and without, not obsessively but protectively. Support and protect your energy so that you have what you need to do what is most important each day. Love yourself a little bit more each day for the journey you are taking, for the difficulties you successfully overcome, for the challenges you face. You are not alone, for there are many energies standing behind you, helping and hoping. Give them a little acknowledgement and thanks, letting them know that you are aware of them and how they are helping you keep in balance. Keep in step with their good wishes for your everyday success as well as success in the long term. Carry on knowing that you are in good hands, yours and theirs.
Remain calm through thick and thin. Though your temper may flare, calm its flame. Though your ire may ignite, calm it. Though your disgust may rise, calm it. Though your fear may stir, calm it. Though your sadness may emerge, calm it. Though your hatred may erupt, calm it. Even as your joy blossoms and your happiness bursts forth let them come in calm waves, everything in like manner so that calmness may reign within and without. Acknowledge what comes but in calmness find balance, integration, meaning, and wholeness, your energy ignited to carry on long and strong, as it should be. For what is the use of a lot of wasted energy? Hone your energy into a calm river and walk beside it in like manner, a calm being, breathing calmly upon the calm earth. As within, so without. In calmness.
In our weekly audio message we are all advised to get into alignment within our lives and within ourselves, to strive for balance between our dual selves, body and spirit.
Of course, keep in mind that it’s a lifelong practice because life is always offering us one challenge or another that is sure to take us out of balance! With enough practice and over time we snap back into alignment a little quicker and come to realize just how important staying in balance really is to our body and our soul. In other words: we live and we learn!
How about a little more love and compassion? – Photo by Jan Ketchel
Our world has many separate parts that interact to maintain our wholeness. The reigning principle that holds us together is homeostasis, a tendency toward balance and stability. When one part of our world becomes extreme other parts of our world become extreme in the opposite direction in a compensatory effort to restore balance.
Currently, our world has devolved into such an extremist state of tenuous balance, with volatile groups expressing deep opposition to one another. The ability to appreciate the needs and perspectives of others in an effort to restore peaceful equilibrium is lost to our current circumstance.
Suspend judgment. In such time of extremism, all cling to the one-sidedness of their individual or group positions. The truth appears radically self-evident; the “other’s” view is clearly distorted and wrong. Emotion intensifies to convince, defend, and attack. Reason is stretched beyond reason. In fact, reason is one side of a pair of opposites, deeply suspect to many.
Realize that all the opposition outside ourselves courses equally through our inner selves. Here we can contribute to our own inner balance, as well as the greater world’s, by inwardly facing the one-sidedness of our own ego positions. Even the most contentious positions encapsulate some grain of truth. Our ego is charged to use its analytic and feeling capacities to find the value and necessary place for all parts of the self and the world.
Outwardly, we do well to not fall prey to blame and hate, as these reactions simply further and intensify the divide. Though we must stand firm to who we truly are, upholding our beliefs and values, we are equally free to feel compassion for all. Compassion is directed love energy, where all are acknowledged as legitimate parts of the whole.
Compassion can be expressed through civility. Regardless of the intensity of our beliefs or feelings we can treat each other with respect. This is an enormous task in these times of extremism where many say and do things that evoke strong visceral reactions within the self. Nonetheless, we can all take up the challenge to resist getting taken over and acting out our rageful impulses, verbally or otherwise. This act of containment keeps ego control above water, not causing further damage. Being civil may not result in a kind response, but it will at least not further inflame.
Next, the responsibility is to care for the self and the intense emotion suppressed within. Allow the self release in total private. A brisk walk, deep breathing and, yes, even throwing stones may be warranted. Once the emotional charge has diminished, reflect deeply on the source of inner activation. Something important is being revealed to the self in the emotional reaction. Know thyself, love thyself.
Love the part of the self that feels victimized, betrayed, or disempowered. Although you may choose to have no relationship or engagement with the triggering “other,” find compassion for them within the self, perhaps simply seeing them as a fellow human being struggling with human life. At that level we are all one.
Upholding civility is the bridge we have now, in these times of raging rivers that threaten to flood our civilization. Join in supporting this bridge, through action with civility.
Stay focused on your intentions, taking the path called the Middle Way. Although the Middle Way involves mastery of inner and outer balance, it does not totally exclude the occasional celebration in the light or a dip into the dark. It does, however, involve mastery of the quick return to balance, calmness, and peace. The Middle Way takes in all possibilities and yet it is a path of gentle flowing through life as one gets to know the self through experiences. It is a path that knows the proclivities of being human. Without judgment walk onward, taking the Middle Way.
