6 Ways to Restore Balance in the Universe

Monday Author:  Susanne Skinner

All human activity is a search for a balance between survival and happiness.   ~ Sri Baleshwar

The Universe reflects principals of cause and effect to create and maintain balance. Nature’s ecosystem demonstrates this perfectly through the polarity of darkness and light; heat and cold; the rise and fall of tides; and the synergy of the plant and animal kingdoms.

Balance in the Universe, yin yangThe human kingdom, aided by the hand of man, threatens this synergy. Mankind, believing to be in control, fails to see things as they are. Instead, by choosing to see things as we are, the natural balance is skewed. Human perception, with limited perspective, dismisses the laws of cause and effect. But the evidence is there, reminding us there is no Planet B.

It is time to restore balance in the Universe, and that responsibility rests with you and me.

We Are What We Do About Balance

Buddhists believe in Karma, the spiritual code of conduct where a person’s intentions and actions influence the future of that individual. Karma has no menu; the Universe returns to us what we have sent out, serving each of us what we deserve.

Hinduism calls it Dharma, or cosmic law and order. It speaks to the moral and ethical code of conduct that governs an individual’s daily life. Hindus believe all individuals accumulate karma over the course of a lifetime. Bad karma hinders enlightenment.

Good actions create good karma and evil actions create negative karma. Karma is not assigned or regulated by any god; it’s earned by the way a person lives. That behavior gets passed down through reincarnation.

The Christian faith speaks of the Great Commandment to love one another, and the Bible contains 54 “love one another passages in the New Testament.

These beliefs share the common denominator of human kindness, expressed in thoughts, words and deeds.  How hard can that be?

A Failure of Kindness

We Don't Have to Agree on Anything to Be Kind to One AnotherWe are living in a world that has forgotten how to celebrate kindness. Unless you’re watching the Hallmark Channel (don’t judge me) it is absent in the media. It’s been replaced by cruelty and harshness I’ve not heard or seen in my life. Ever.

Social media has become a platform for egregious vilification of individuals, political parties, and beliefs. My refusal to tolerate this on my personal accounts has led to unfollowed and unfriended people who continue to do it. You know who you are. Or maybe you don’t, which means you are part of the problem.

If you sit with your god on Sunday, then verbally denigrate anyone who does not reflect your personal, religious or political beliefs, the balance shifts. Negative energy begets negative energy.

Author George Saunders delivering the convocation speech at Syracuse University for the class of 2013, shared this reflection,

“So here’s something I know to be true, although it’s a little corny, and I don’t quite know what to do with it:  What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.”

Kindness helps keeps the Universe in balance and right now we are living with a monumental failure of this simple act.

Balance of Mind ~ Body ~ Spirit

Mind Body SpiritRestoring balance through thoughts, words and actions rests with each of us by reflecting our behavior outward into the universe.

There are 6 principals that, when practiced with intention, bring the mind, body and spirit into balance with the cosmos us. We are what we do.

  1. Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
    The Golden Rule, a universal concept that guides our thoughts, words and deeds.
  1. Use Your Time Wisely
    Pay attention to your journey.  It’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of your worth and purpose. Everyone gets the same 24-hour allotment—use it wisely.
  1. Know Yourself
    The highest level of awareness is knowing oneself. Making an investment in knowing ourselves underwrites our ability to live our best life.
  1. Help Others
    Invest in those who may not be at the same level of experience and understanding. Be patient, treat them kindly, encourage them.
  1. Invest in Yourself.
    We develop higher levels of consciousness throughout our journey, helping us relate to the world with deeper understanding and mindful responses.
  1. Share Yourself
    Being open is an invitation to others. Our imperfections, insecurity, and flaws remind us to communicate with authenticity and discernment. Everyone has something to share.Together we encourage balance.

The Balancing Act

Being in balance with the Universe creates a clear path of forward momentum. The ability to make the connection between mind, body and spirit is the link to the harmony that exists in nature.

Find Balance, yin yangSynergy between the worldly and the metaphysical is a balancing act between material and spiritual need. It grounds us in the finite and allows us to appreciate the infinite. Man owns the space in between, filling it with either negative or positive energy.

Darwin believed humans are profoundly social and caring and science shows that offering kindness to others promotes your own well-being. Researchers find kindness to be a strong predictor of joy and stability.

Many colleges, including Harvard, emphasize kindness on applications for admission.  Students are asked to include examples of volunteering in local communities along with academic achievements.

Set Good Intentions

See Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly, Walk With Your GodWhile researching this topic I repeatedly encountered a verse from the Old Testament: “What does the Lord require of you but to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8), a sentiment I embrace.

Set good intentions, then live into them. Seek balance and be kind to one another.  How we live our life determines the kind of life we have.

And when it comes to justice, Karma never forgets an address.