The Equinox is Calling
This week marked the Fall equinox, and in our northern hemisphere, the advent of autumn. I love the Spring and Fall equinoxes because they offer such a natural time to do a “balance check.” The cycles of nature so often beckon us to take stock of our path, and the equinox invites us to consider the balance of our lives: our ratio of light to dark, sleep to waking, work to rest, intake to output, solitude to connection and doing to being.
Many people I talk with name “finding balance” as one of their life goals, which is great. But in our linear culture we tend to think of balance as something to be achieved and then crossed off of the list. “Create balance in life – check!”
Like many foundations of wellness, I see balance more as something to be practiced over a lifetime. It can be a little slippery. We may find it in one area of my life only to lose it in another. We may need to strengthen self-discipline in some areas, learn to let go in others, or adapt to the experience of being “in balance.” Our heart may desire it, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be comfortable, or sustainable, at first. All change has elements of discomfort.
Over time, we become more conscious of what balance feels like; it is easier to recognize when we’re out of balance, and to offer correction. With practice, being in balance feels more natural than being out-of-sync, but the stressors of life can still draw us off center and require us to return again.
The signs of being out of balance include feelings of depletion, frustration, negative thinking, depression, physical illness, relational conflict or just not feeling yourself. If you have the sense that something in life is “off” but you’re not sure what, the equinox offers a wonderful opportunity to do a balance check.
Slow down. Set some time aside to check in on all the aspects of your life. Does your body feel in balance? Are your thoughts in balance (or do they tend to extremes)? Are your emotions in balance (or are they stuck high or low)? Are your relationships in balance (with a sense of mutuality)? Is your spirit in balance?
Wherever we discover imbalance, we can consider ways to shift ourselves and with practice it’s easier to regain our equilibrium – until the next time. Balance is a process and a way of living – not an event. Like the cycles of Mother Earth herself, we all need a balance check every so often and She offers us a gentle reminder every Spring and Fall.