Balance ... By: Josette Cicacci

I’ve been drawn to the concept of balance quite a bit of late. I know that when I feel I am in balance there’s something simply unstoppable about it. It’s as if nothing can get in the way of me and that which I hope to manifest. I have my eyes on the prize and I’m cruising mindfully along at full speed ahead. And then, there are the times when I seem to fall out of balance.

I’m not really sure what that means, per say, though the feeling is one which I hope to not consciously expose myself to with any great frequency. It’s almost like a hangover. When we wake up in that out of balance place and go “UGH! How did I let myself get here?!?”

And, I’ve been challenging myself to see this as a gift. Displayed on my refrigerator are images, quotes, and memorabilia which nourish me through daily reminders and support to “stay the course.” Among them is the Mary Oliver quote, “Someone I once loved gave me a box of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

I find the funny thing with balance is that sometimes we have no idea how in or out of sync we may be until something shakes our world such that we are forced to stop and reflect. Denise, Leslie, and I were chatting the other day about placing the visualization of a swinging pendulum to this concept of balance. A pendulum is always moving. Though it appears to be in balance when hanging in the center, the pendulum will always be in a position of swaying, even if it’s just ever so slightly, to the right or to the left.

This past week marked the annual Cicacci Family Jersey Shore trip. Ahhh, the joys of family time! I love my family from the depths of my being with everything that I have. We are a very close bunch … And, they can push my buttons in a big way. I embarked upon this trip having set the intention to remain in a grounded, conscious state of presence with each passing breath. Overall, that served me quite well. However, no family vacation would be complete without the gift of a good challenge or two.

A series of triggering events provided me with the perfect opportunity to watch myself swing farther than I might have chosen away from my center. As I began to swing off center, although I was aware as it was happening, it became clear to me that I was not fully certain how to intervene in the most effective and efficient manner. My response in striving to swing back towards my center has been one worth noting. For, through reflection, I’ve been able to identify how I can and will proceed in facing similar challenge(s) next time. As you and I know both know, there very well may be a next time.

I’ve taken to the challenge of seeking clarity on what is most serving to my greater good, and ultimately the greater good for all those with whom I have contact. I am finding that this means exposing myself to the people, places, and things which prevent my pendulum from wavering too far off to the right or to the left.  
For me this includes a number of things. Above all else, I've identified that it means remaining with my breath at all times. It means staying pure and authentic in my relationships with both myself and those with whom I interact on a day-to-day basis. It means physically fueling myself with nourishment in the form of foods and drink which enable me to thrive, as well as providing myself with an adequate balance of rest and mindful movement and meditation daily.

For you, this will undoubtedly look very different. Alas, we are all humans moving through this life in our own ways. I hope that you may choose to acknowledge, and perhaps even soften to the fact that, sometimes the greatest gift of all is in experiencing those moments in which we feel off center, as they provide us with insight for which to return, with gratitude, back towards balance.

Here's to finding your balance within,
Josette