The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong. – Carl Jung

As I look down from a giant pendulum, I am once again thankful that it has stopped swinging. I’ve done this back and forth thing since I was a baby.  It began with the mobile that hung in my crib.  I cried because I was hungry. I cried because my tummy was too full. There were days I liked my baby swing, other days, not at all. Swinging from one extreme to another.

I am not literarily swinging from a giant pendulum –although that would be fun- but it’s symbolically a part of my life.

I experienced the full effect of the swinging pendulum after my divorce. I not only felt it but, understood what happened. After the divorce, I chose -or was forced- to test with raw emotions about who I was and how and why I make the choices I make. At this time, I wanted to swing over to the far opposite of where I had lived my life. As time ticked on I uncovered changes I needed to make in my life. I wanted to distance myself from the negative I had created and allowed in my life. I would swing to the far-right mentally and emotionally. This new experience was better, and I wanted to stay there. I lived more positive, and I learned new things about myself. I saw others in a new light. Although deciding to change my life was difficult and daunting, it made me leave the darker place. This darker place had been a trap where I did not comprehend all the nonsense.

I remained on a roller coaster of change as new ideas and understanding came at me at high speeds. This other side changed my life. I enjoyed the ride and cherished the light. Although seeing myself in a new light was painful and these changes would take time, it now made more sense. I loved this other side of the full swing.

As time marched on, I realized that I could not stay there forever. I learned much at this angle of the pendulum and I had a much more positive view on life even on the painful days. However, the constant buzz of positive vibes and fast-paced learning could exhaust and risk losing sight of reality. So now what do I do?

Stop, breath, and focus on keeping a good vibe and positive outlook while taking the journey to a balanced center was what I needed. I let go of the things that did not serve my purpose to my goals or my health. I found a good grasp of what is true and real in my life. The difficult situation’s no longer lured me back to the far left. These are lessons for my daily life to keep me balanced.

The soft and rhythmic tick of the slow and steady center movement of the pendulum is soothing and balanced. It does not insist I hide or go at full speed.

I’m more in tune now that I can sense when I’m swinging one way or the other when changes occur in my life. As time marches on, changes are always in motion. Your pendulum will always swing with each change. This is a good thing. You can see the entire picture and make the decisions that are best for you to balance and center yourself. When you learn what’s on each side of a choice, you create your perfect rhythm for the balance you need for your life.

It’s not for you to judge when someone has swung to an extreme side. It means they are in their learning time of life to make their own discovery to get to their center balance. Encourage them, cheer them on, and just let them know you are there if they need you. Just as others were available for me and loved me even when I was on an extreme swing. Those people are my tribe.

If you seem to be emotionally and mentally or even psychically extreme to one side, take heart. You are learning something about yourself that you need to know. It also shows you are approaching a journey back to your center balance. The good stuff is insight. No one else can move the pendulum except yourself.

Inspect where you are. Decide where you want to be. Contentment and peacefulness is an indicator you are at the steady center slowing ticking as you should. Anxiety, dread or fear could show you where your swing is positioned. It shows work to do on your inner core and goals. If you’re caught up dreaming, spraying positive vibes over everyone you come into contact with, you may need to ride your unicorn back to earth and join the rest of us mortals. People prefer a few mists here and there with positivity as opposed to being sunburned with sunshine. Soft clouds can be easier on the eyes. They are not necessarily a negative thing.

Life’s about balance and no one has it mastered. It’s an ever-changing and evolving force. When we know where our personal balance is, then we have our target in sight and can move fast to achieve it. So hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Because, like Irving Mills tells us, “It don’t mean a thing it if ain’t got that swing.”