: By Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com

A Pendulum at Rest: Finding Balance When Life Swings Out of Control

by Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com

Do you ever feel as if life is swinging wildly out of control — like a pendulum caught in a storm? Emotions rise and crash, fears tug at us, and we feel pulled from one extreme to the other. The swing can be dizzying, leaving us uncertain where the center even is.

But this state is temporary. The pendulum always seeks balance, and so do we. Our peace depends on how we respond — whether we feed the swing with panic and fear or learn, through daily practice, to slow the motion and rest in the still point at the center of our being. That center is our calm awareness, our trust in life, our faith that all things work toward good.

When Doors Close and Paths Change

Recently, I’ve experienced moments when the door I planned to walk through suddenly closed right in front of me. At first, I panicked. I wondered, “Now what am I going to do? Everything’s messed up.” Yet even in that moment, I realized I had a choice — to stay at peace or to let fear and doubt take the lead.

When I chose to trust — to believe that this too was for my highest good — something remarkable happened. Another door opened. A new possibility appeared, one I hadn’t even known was possible. And yes, sometimes that door also closed later, forcing me once again to decide: Do I slip back into fear, or do I stand firm in faith?

Each time I held on to the belief that life was guiding me toward “this or something better,” another path would open — often brighter, often wiser than the one before. The journey became exhilarating, like a roller coaster with its rushes of fear and joy. And though there were moments when everything seemed to plunge into darkness, I began to realize: the darkness always passed and a spark of light would appear.

Trusting the Flow of Life

That’s the key — for all of us — when facing uncertainty. To hold on to faith, to trust that this too shall pass. It may sound like a cliché, yet it remains a timeless truth. Storms end. Anger cools. Even deep fears lose their grip when we stop feeding them. Life flows forward if we allow it to.

But we must do our part. If we cling to fear, resentment, or doubt, we anchor ourselves behind that closed door. The future, however, holds countless possibilities — each one reflecting the energy we bring to it. Do we dwell on old pain and old fears? Or do we open our hearts to new directions, to unseen opportunities waiting just beyond our current horizon?

The Magical and Practical Universe

The world we live in is both magical and practical. It follows the simple law: as we sow, so shall we reap. When we plant fear or resentment, that is what grows. But when we choose love, trust, and compassion, we nurture a field of peace that returns blessings in kind.

This isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a living practice — a moment-by-moment act of choosing again. Every thought, every word, every action and reaction is a seed. And the beauty is that each moment offers a fresh beginning. Whatever mistakes we’ve made, the next breath gives us the chance to choose differently: fear or love, anger or compassion, judgment or patience.

The Power in Each Choice

That’s where our freedom lives — in the power to choose anew. No one can take that from us. When we align our thoughts and actions with love and trust, we become co-creators with life itself. The universe responds to our vibration, shaping the reality we expect.

Yes, it’s empowering — and sometimes frightening. We know our own weaknesses and doubts. We carry our baggage of fear and self-judgment. But those very patterns are the weights that keep our pendulum swinging. When we release them, even one at a time, the movement slows. Peace begins to return.

Writing the Script of Our Lives

Every moment is a blank page. We are the authors of our next line, the shapers of our next scene. We can write from fear or from faith. We can choose to slam doors with worry, or open them wide with trust. Life will always mirror our expectations — whether they lead to joy or turmoil, heaven or hell, peace or anxiety.

The question to ask ourselves, again and again, is simple: Am I choosing fear, or am I choosing peace? Am I willing to trust that each change is guiding me toward something better? When we rest at the still point of the pendulum — the place of calm awareness — doors open where walls once stood. That is where peace begins, and that is where true freedom resides.

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.

Creative Commons 3.0: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License. Attribute the author: Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com. Link back to the article: This article originally appeared on InnerSelf.com

Recommended Book:

The Art of Inner Peace: The Law of Attraction for Inner Peace

by Bohdi Sanders, PhD

This inspiring book guides readers toward calm awareness and emotional balance. Dr. Sanders combines mindfulness and the Law of Attraction to help release negativity, cultivate compassion, and rediscover harmony within. It’s a practical companion to the above article, A Pendulum at Rest, offering daily insights for restoring peace in a fast-moving world.

Order The Art of Inner Peace on Amazon

Article Recap

Inner peace begins when we stop fighting life’s swing and find stillness at the pendulum’s center. Each moment invites us to choose between fear and trust. When we align with calm awareness, doors open where walls once stood — and peace becomes not a destination, but a daily practice.

#InnerPeace #EmotionalBalance #TrustInLife #Mindfulness #ChoosingLove #PersonalGrowth #CalmAwareness #LettingGoOfFear #SpiritualPractice #LifeLessons

break

Thanks for visiting InnerSelf.com, where there are 20,000+ life-altering articles promoting "New Attitudes and New Possibilities." All articles are translated into 30+ languages. Subscribe to InnerSelf Magazine, published weekly, and Marie T Russell's Daily Inspiration. InnerSelf Magazine has been published since 1985.