HrV and the pendulum of life

Your nervous system is like a pendulum.

Always swinging.

When balanced, it moves in a small, steady rhythm close to the centre.

Sometimes so rapidly you barely notice it.

But push it too far out, and it needs a bigger swing in the opposite direction to recover.

It’s like a natural law: every action has a reaction.

If you overwork, you’ll need more rest.

If you overindulge, you will restrain yourself.

The objective is to keep the pendulum swinging close to center, where the Tao lives.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) can help you find and stay near that balance point.

HRV is like a real-time snapshot of how your nervous system is handling life’s swings.

It measures the variation between your heartbeats, a key indicator of adaptability.

When HRV is high, your system is flexible, able to shift smoothly between stress and rest.

When it’s low, you might feel less resilient, stuck in stress or struggling to bounce back.

Staying near the center keeping your nervous system balanced helps you avoid those extreme highs and lows that can throw off HRV.

With this in mind…

Expand, but Don’t Overstretch.

Pursue goals with steady, manageable steps. This gives your nervous system time to adjust, keeping HRV high and your energy balanced. Slow, consistent progress prevents burnout.

Enjoy, but Don’t Overindulge.

Indulge in what you love, but with moderation. Staying near center helps your HRV stay stable, allowing quick recovery instead of wild swings between excess and depletion.

Work, but Pace Yourself.

Break big projects into manageable pieces.

A steady rhythm of work and rest keeps your HRV high, showing your body isn’t caught in survival mode.

This balance keeps you energized without the crash.

HRV is like a compass for your journey; high HRV signals adaptability and resilience a time for a push.

When HRV drops, it’s a cue to slow down, reset, and give yourself the recovery you need.

The goal isn’t to avoid life’s ups and downs.

It’s to stay close to centre, where there's no excess and life feels steady and grounded.