The Ring of Balance: Solomon’s Lesson for All Seasons
- Ben Neil
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
In the ancient wisdom surrounding King Solomon, there is a story that has endured across centuries because it speaks directly to the human heart. Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and wealth, understood that power and success could easily intoxicate the mind, just as hardship could darken it. To guard himself against both arrogance and despair, he had a ring crafted and engraved with a simple yet profound reminder: This too shall pass. It was not a symbol of resignation, but of clarity, meant to anchor him in balance no matter what life placed before him.
When circumstances were favorable and praise surrounded him, the ring reminded Solomon that glory is fleeting. Triumph, wealth, and admiration, no matter how intoxicating, are temporary visitors. By remembering this, he was able to remain humble, grounded, and measured in moments when the world might otherwise have pulled him into excess or pride. The inscription gently returned him to wisdom, whispering that identity must never be built upon conditions that time itself will dissolve.
In moments of loss, confusion, or sorrow, the same words offered a different kind of medicine. This too shall pass became a balm for suffering, a reminder that pain is not permanent and despair is not destiny. When the weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon him or when circumstances turned against him, the ring reminded Solomon that darkness, like light, moves in cycles. Nothing remains fixed. Even the deepest night eventually yields to dawn.
At the heart of this story is the ancient recognition of impermanence. Solomon understood that clinging to pleasure creates fear of loss, and clinging to pain creates hopelessness. Balance arises when we see clearly that all experiences are temporary expressions of a larger unfolding. The ring did not ask him to detach from life, but to engage it wisely, without being consumed by its changing tides. In remembering impermanence, he found freedom from emotional extremes and access to inner steadiness.
This timeless teaching still speaks today. When life feels overwhelming or when success seems to define us, the wisdom of Solomon’s ring invites us back to center. This too shall pass is not a dismissal of joy or grief, but an invitation to presence. It reminds us to cherish what is here without clinging, and to endure what is difficult without losing hope. In embracing the impermanent nature of existence, we discover a deeper peace, one that remains steady not because life stops changing, but because we no longer lose ourselves within its passing forms.
If these words speak to your heart, I invite you to step into the journey through my books The Initiate, The Initiate: Remembering, Synchronicity: Illuminating Your Destined Path, and Mindfulness: The First Step to Reconnecting With Your Soul. May their pages remind you that you are never alone and that your path, no matter how winding, has always been leading you home.
With Love,
Ben Neil- The Initiate
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