On Balance / Regression To The Mean

Balance.

A topic that is often discussed on its own as well as incorporated into numerous posts which can be found throughout TOTJO. While meditating on The Balanced Life my own experiences and intuitions closely resemble what is referred to as “Regression To The Mean”, also known as “Regression Toward The Mean”. Where the strength and import of randomness and variability (commonly seen as contributors to disorder) serve to re-establish order, while ensuring no compensation for one extreme over the next. It is something of a re-alignment, a cosmic effort and pulling force responsible for dragging our being inward once more.

As individuals and as a like-minded/spirited society of Jedi what is the weight of its meaning? What role do our own intuition and experience play in deciphering its relevance? More importantly, how do we use what we learn of balance (and this Regression To The Mean) to shape our lives and the lives of others?

Do we view it as a fulcrum, serving as the center point of dichotomies and extremes, the midway of duality? Is it static or does it exist in a fluid and dynamic state? Or is it something less predictable and more…surreal… more vexing?

I’m sure we would all be interested in learning what thoughts, experiences and intuitions (as well as meditative epiphanies/realizations) others have on this?

Your contributions are appreciated.

-Acheron

I'm not sure I entirely understand everything you've written above (I'm not sure I understand how regression towards the mean relates to inner balance), but I will answer as I can.

Do we view it as a fulcrum, serving as the center point of dichotomies and extremes, the midway of duality? Is it static or does it exist in a fluid and dynamic state? Or is it something less predictable and more…surreal… more vexing?

Balance is different for all of us.. and it changes as we change. Sometimes we might be able to deal with something better, or sometimes worse. Sometimes we need to step back, and other times to step forward.

As for duality... that assumes that we only tilt towards two different things, both extremes, when in reality life is not that simple; we might balance a whole host of situations or emotions.

I've never considered "regression to the mean" but with regards to balance I look at it as a similar topic to living in moderation. Anytime we focus too much on one important thing at the expense of another the balance shifts and we decide if the shift was worth it or not. If not, we seek to change it.

Sorry I don't have an impressive academic answer to give, but there it is...

Edan wrote: I'm not sure I entirely understand everything you've written above (I'm not sure I understand how regression towards the mean relates to inner balance)

As an example of regression and inner balance: Things aren't always great, but they won't always be bad either.

Think of inner balance / Regression To The Mean analogous to a metal spring. It can be twisted, stretched, bent and distorted every which way but eventually, more so inevitably, returns to its original resting form (i.e. a Balanced/Regressed Mean state).

Do we see these properties of balance and regress within ourselves?

Learn_To_Know wrote: .... balance shifts and we decide if the shift was worth it or not. If not, we seek to change it.

To what end?

And can you elaborate on what "balance" means to you?

Acheron wrote: To what end?

To whatever end we need to get back into balance, and as long as we're not violating the principles we took upon ourselves when we became Jedi.

Acheron wrote: And can you elaborate on what "balance" means to you?

For me it's judging the consequences of my actions. I am not in balance when I'm not at peace. If I'm not at peace, why am I not at peace? Usually, it's because of consequences from direct actions of mine. Sometimes it's indirect. Either way, when I recognize the loss of peace, I do what I can to regain the balance by changing or shifting the actions that led me there. It's quite simple really.

What does balance mean to you?

A spring compressed too far or stretched too far cannot return to its original state due to distortion...inner balance needs to be more fluid, it needs to be able to return to the middle no matter how far it moves to any extreme...

I believe in order to understand balance, and then describe it to another, one needs a good model to use as reference, as metaphor is often the easiest way of communication, although I'm still not sure why this is the case. The fulcrum is a good model, I tend to think of it as a point within life, and the model in this particular case being a pendulum.

Using this model, balance is the direct point where the pendulum points directly to the floor, the polar opposites, or extremes represent the extreme angles at which the pendulum shifts. Balance as I have experienced it, is not something to be obtained as a one time deal, but as a point in life we return to again and again during the course of one's own life.

I often place such an importance upon attempts of achieving balance, that I am thrown off balance, to one extreme or the other, if that makes any sense.

I have learned that it is not so much a "destination" but a point of return as a key part of the journey I call life...

Well put..

I have trouble with the the idea that balance is a point...

For myself, it is a constant swaying....

No too far this way, not to far that way.....

Looking at it as a point, a mean, you are just waiting to move one way, or the other...

And, I don't think of it as only two directions either...

Imagine balancing a chair on your head....



Like that...

For me balance is the acceptance of who we really are right here, right now. In terms of light and dark it is accepting both of these aspects of ourselves. Sometimes we are at peace and at others we are in pain, this is completely natural and one has no meaning without the other so therefore should be considered equally. When we don't favour one state of being over another we are truly balanced.