Definition of equilibrium from Merriam Webster

1a: a state of intellectual or emotional balance 

1b: a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements

We just passed the fall equinox this year.  This event has been tracked by many ancient cultures for thousands of years.  This time we just passed of balance in day and night can be a good reminder for finding balance in our own lives. We are now in Libra symbolized by a balance scale.

Physically we know if we can’t keep our balance we fall down. The CDC has a 10 second test first standing on both feet, then one foot a little in front, then standing as if on a tightrope, then on only one foot. Some new data recommends to prevent some falls we should be able to stand for 20 seconds on one foot. Some health experts feel this test should be included in annual checkups.

With our age of information overload intellectual balance can be an issue. I had my whole year planned out for more balance. Then In April I changed from being a casual employee to working part-time. I had to very quickly learn a lot of new things and I was taking a class to learn Yoga Nidra. I love to learn but my brain hurt. I’m cutting back or even letting go of some of my active evening learning activites. I love to learn but weekly classes are just intellectually too much for me right now. I’ve chosen to read books on the topics I like. I can do this for 10 minutes on the days where work is intellectually challenging.

Emotional balance occurs when we allow our feelings and learn to accept them without judgment. As children we might have been taught to deny feelings and emotions. I remember being told at the dentist at 5 years old, “Little soiders don’t cry.” I learnd to not cry from that and other messages. For me, balance is created by meditation. When I sit down to meditate those deeply buried feelings can pop up. Sometimes I cry and it feels so good! I can better balance my emotions when I’m more aware of them. Emotional balance occurs when we allow our feelings and learn to accept them without judgment. From that point we can better change our emotions.

The yin yang symbol also represents balance between Heaven and Earth, Night and Day and the cycles of the seasons.  I use this symbol as my logo at times, I have it on a shirt.  Here is a finer breakdown of the symbol.  The outer circle is the universe.  Some of the things represented by black are feminine, intuition, submission, moon and stillness.  White is male, logic, dominance, sun, and movement.  The line dividing the shapes is a rounded S shape and is meant to show a kind of push and pull.  This represents the ebb and flow of balance.  When yin is too strong yang pushes back and it also works in reverse.  Both help each other stay strong.  The dots in the center show us there is always some yin in every yang and some yang in every yin.  Nothing is black and white.

Yin yang symbol is from   http://all-free-download.com/ Scale photo Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash