Finding equilibrium
What is equilibrium?
In short, equilibrium means balance. But it means that things have found a way to balance out so that things are kept relatively stable.
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, equilibrium is “a state of intellectual or emotional balance.” Oxford English Dictionary gives several definitions, one being “the state of equal balance between powers of any kind.”
I like to think of equilibrium as the goal when dealing with (gestures broadly) life. How do we move through life without losing our shit at any given moment? I posit that we do it by finding our own personal equilibrium.
At present, if you are keeping up with the news about the United States government and what the administration is trying to destroy, it’s likely that you are angry, sad, or some combination of both (to varying degrees). That tips the scales to the Bad Place, where we feel disheartened, listless, anxious, and/or depressed. None of those are happy feeling-states, and, moreover, they through your mental and physical health out of whack: you lose your sense of equilibrium, and everything feels awful.
Ways to regain/maintain your equilibrium:
If you want to regain a sense of equilibrium or emotional/intellectual balance, you have a few choices.
One is to turn the news off and refuse to listen to or learn anything that is upsetting to you. While avoidance isn’t necessarily the way I would advise, I DO see the benefit of at least restricting or limiting your daily intake of bullshit. Maybe read summaries instead of watching pundits talk about the latest “something” ad nauseam. Or only check the news once a day. Or schedule an occasional day when you don’t consume any news at all.
A second idea, and one that I’ve adopted for myself, is to consume (read, listen to, watch) something that provides hope and/or good news for every single bit of “regular” news you consume. No, I don’t mean the 30-second feel-good story at the end of a 30-minute broadcast. Maybe it’s looking at David Hogg’s account on BlueSky or on Threads: each day, he posts a graphic entitled “What Democrats Did Today”, which sums up a bunch of actions that you might not even know people are taking. Or following an inspirational writer, speaker, performer, or coach: someone who is holding a vision of the better world that we can make together. Suggestions include Fen Druadin on Facebook, Dan Harris on Instagram, Beth Kempton on Substack, or anyone who motivates you and helps you feel hopeful, or encourages you to work on making this world a better place.
“Consuming something positive” might also mean taking yourself outside for a walk or some meditation after checking the news. Or putting on some music that makes you want to move (or sing, or possibly scream) to. These sort of active mechanisms help you to move through any trauma caused by the news, so that your body doesn’t hold onto that trauma and get stuck or weighed down by it. (There’s science to back this up, including the best-selling book Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score.)
There is also “little treat” culture, which can be quite helpful as long as your little treat is something delightful (to you) that is not harmful (to you or others). For instance, here: have this favorite meme of mine, as a little treat:
Maybe your little treat is a trip to the bookstore or library to get a new book. Maybe it’s watching an episode or two of a favorite show. Or having some chocolate. Or scheduling something that brings you joy. Consider it your reward for having been a responsible citizen who kept up with the news of the day.
Please remember these words from Paulo Coelho: “If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive.” Or, as U2 sang in their song Acrobat, “don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
Take a break if you need one. Find your equilibrium. Take care of yourself. Fuel your hope.
Copyright Belinda Fewings at Unsplash
