Change and The Grey Area

The energy of change fluctuates on a scale between positive and negative, each representing opposite poles. It is rare, if not impossible, for change to be singularly positive or negative, but operates somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards one way or the other. I refer to this space as “the grey area”, always a blend of both positive and negative.

We usually seek change when we are leaning more towards the negative end of the scale, because we want things in our lives to improve. But sometimes, we can become restless when existing in a balance. When things have been stable for a while, we desire any form of change so we can feel the progression of energy. Obviously, we desire positive change, but when we become restless and dissatisfied with balance, we tend to make reckless choices that push us towards negative change, just to experience movement.

That isn’t to say that negative change doesn’t have its place. Negative change can be an excellent motivator that breaks us out of stagnation and gets us moving with the flow of energy, again.

Imagine you’re playing on a seesaw. If both you and the other person on the opposite side of the seesaw hold your ground, then the seesaw stays balanced. Positioning yourselves to make the seesaw stay still in the middle is entertaining for about 5 seconds, but if you were to sit there for all of eternity, it would be pretty boring. That’s not playing, it’s not part of the game. No one is moving and there’s nothing to do. Until one of you gets tired of it and decides to either lift their feet or push themselves off the ground to get the seesaw moving again. Everything has an equal and opposite reaction, so if one side of the seesaw goes up, the other must come down, and vice versa.

Life is a lot like the constant back and forth of a seesaw. We have low moments that motivate us to push ourselves off the ground, and we have high moments that allow us to relax as we descend. Those high moments also remind us that there is a high point to strive for. If we were stuck at the bottom of the seesaw with no one sitting on the other end, we’d just hop off the ride. Alternatively, if there was a large boulder on the other end and we were stuck at the top, then it would be just as uncomfortable.

Whether or not we enjoy the feeling of the rise and fall of the seesaw, our souls crave the flow between negative and positive energy and struggle through stagnation. Subconsciously, we will make decisions that create energetic movement, regardless of how much we desire to be still.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot in light of the disruptions we see in the world, today. Things appear to be bleak—people feel powerless and afraid, delving into hatred for those who appear to have hopped off the seesaw, keeping them stuck at the bottom. The system that we have become comfortable with is beginning to fall apart, with new changes being made every day. And even more disheartening, those changes all appear to affect us negatively, so we keep falling further and further into the negative on the grey scale.

But, like a rubber band that is stretched back, something has to give at one point or another, creating a slingshot that propels the energy into the positive. The journey is often messy, as you must move through a lot of negative space in order to reach the positive side. However, when immense positive change is required to rectify an extremely negative situation, you need that momentum to get to where you want to be.

We are sitting at the end of that rubber band, being pulled further and further back. This is something I have been observing for years, waiting for that moment when a singular event happens that causes the end to be let go, propelling us forward into something greater than we can currently understand. And maybe we never will see the entire impact of that shot in our lifetime, or never fully understand that. Humans don’t live long enough to see the full domino effect of history. But it will be there, and I feel fortunate to be a witness to just a portion of such a massive change in this life.

Do the negative aspects of this change affect me? Absolutely. I’m not going to pretend I’m not also sitting at the bottom. And I don’t deny that it’s uncomfortable. But it’s manageable, especially knowing that eventually, the rubber band will snap forward. I just know it’s not my place to be the one to pull the trigger. It is my place, however, to stay calm in the face of it. To give snacks and water to those sitting with me on the end of the seesaw to make the wait less uncomfortable. To help those who are struggling more than I am, those who face discrimination, homelessness, unemployment, among a plethora of other concerns. Handling one issue at a time, just making a few minutes of their day relaxed enough that it gives them the strength to continue forward. That is my goal in all of this. A simple one with a small impact zone, but necessary.

So if you feel motivated to be a part of that push, do so. Embrace that. But not out of hatred for the person on the other side of the seesaw. Instead, out of love and compassion for the people who are sitting with you on your end, and a desire to show them the view from the top. Out of a sense of community, partnership, unity, equality, and growth.

Let go of the fear in your heart and keep your sights on the horizon. Allow the anger, disgust, and outrage to transform into strength, determination, and endurance. Don’t let those who don’t understand your position discourage you, and don’t let others’ fear and pain influence you toward negative action. Hindsight is 20/20–they will see when they are meant to. For now, be the positive change you long to see in the world, spread joy where you can, nurture those who are struggling, take care of your home and your community, and build a tolerable space for yourself while the world erupts into chaos. Eventually, the flames will die down, and new life will emerge. Prepare your heart to help create and care for that life when the time comes.