Anxiety is the fear that one of a pair of opposites might cancel the other. Forever.

This quote suggests that anxiety stems from the fear of losing one aspect of a pair of opposites. In other words, it’s the fear that something we value or identify with may be completely eradicated by its opposite. This could include concepts such as good and evil, love and hate, success and failure, or even life and death. The implication is that we have anxiety because we fear the balance or equilibrium we’ve achieved might be disrupted, leading to the dominance of one over the other.

This idea resonates deeply in today’s world. We live in a society that is often polarized, where one viewpoint tries to cancel out the other. This can breed anxiety, as people fear that their beliefs or values might be overshadowed or eliminated.

In terms of personal development, this quote suggests that we need to acknowledge and accept the existence of opposites. Instead of fearing the potential dominance of one over the other, we should strive for balance and understand that these opposites often coexist and define each other. For instance, one can only understand happiness because they have experienced sadness.

Moreover, it also implies that we should avoid clinging too tightly to any one aspect of a pair of opposites, as this attachment can breed fear and anxiety. By accepting that change is a part of life and that no state is permanent, we can better manage our anxiety and cultivate a more balanced, peaceful mindset.