This chapter addresses how to bring balance into your life. I know this is something I am always striving for. Every New Year one of my resolutions is to slow down and enjoy the journey. I know I can get out of balance quickly so what is balance in my life?
The book suggests balance is a state of equilibrium of health on the physical level, fulfillment on the mental level, and joyousness on the spiritual level. Balancing is handling all aspects of life in a way that results in the greatest good for you and for others. It goes on to say that what we truly seek-to be the gods and goddesses we can be-is a dynamic balance, a condition in which we are attuned and aware, flexible and capable. A dynamic balance is one that flexes, moves, shifts, and adjusts to meet new challenges, allows us to learn from them, to change and grow, and through it all to move to a condition of equilibrium regardless of what happens. As a simple example I compare this to watching a good volleyball team. Remember that we are trying to balance all three dimensions even though the physical is the only one visible.
The Law of Balance is founded on the fundamental nature of the Universe which is love. The law reads: ALL EXCHANGES BALANCE. Any exchange that you make is balanced when what you give is equal to or greater than what you receive. If you give less than you receive eventually you will have to face that imbalance and deal with it. I think I often refer to this as Karma. The criterion for balance does not involve another person's view or opinion, it is personal. You only need to meet the standards within yourself, your loving spirit. You keep score within yourself and are so constituted that when you make an exchange that isn't neutral or positively balanced, you create within yourself the difference (the imbalance) that is needed to equalize the transaction. To me this means you don't get away with anything. Which always goes back to taking responsibility for yourself in all aspects. An accumulation of imbalances results in tension and if these tensions are not resolved it can ultimately destroy the underlying structure. This can be your own body, your family, a corporation, or a country.
The book describes four broad areas of interchange in our lives. The first is Interchanges with our Environment. I have thought about this since I was very young and the effect we humans personally and as a whole have on this Earth. The second is Interchanges with Others and as discussed before, this is taking the high road as we act with peace, love, joy and kindness aiming for positive interactions. The third is our Interchanges with Ourselves including the responsibility for keeping yourself balanced which is a continuous process. The last Interchange is on the Physical Level. It is plain and simple, if we are not in good health it is because we are out of balance in some way. The book states we need to love ourselves enough to take excellent care of ourselves. Why is this easier said than done? If we are physically imbalanced we are less effective mentally and spiritually. That may be my "ah, ha" moment.
On the Mental level I know I personally need to quit worrying. Worry does not change anything. It sure seems overwhelming at 2 in the morning. We are to fill our minds with something else, being positive thoughts.
On a spiritual level the individual must decide what is best whether it be prayer, meditation, study, whatever. Being aware that I need to be receptive to the guidance when it comes and realize the more I use it the better it will work for me.
The book suggests 7 tools to achieve greater balance:
1. Analyze Self.
2. Time and Balance-budget or schedule your time. Remember not to impose your schedule onto others.
3. Balancing the Spiritual, Mental and Physical-this doesn't mean they need equal time, rather equal emphasis. Do not neglect one for another.
4. Keep your Activities in Accord with your Purpose and Mission.
5. Flexibility-I want my life to be pleasurable, not a drudge so don't be too rigid.
6. Moderation; avoid Excess.
7. Stability-balance creates stability.
The Chapter concludes that our world used to be in better balance. Our present male-dominated world is clearly out of balance. Under the Universal Laws there is no gender distinction. The more nearly we can approach a nondistinction the more balanced we can become. We will also achieve greater equality and wholeness as individuals when we work to balance our feminine and masculine natures within ourselves. My Nursing school had the motto "to make man whole", I would always think, "to make humans whole", first I must concentrate on making myself more balanced. Again, I have work to do.
