The Universal Law That Almost Destroyed Me And The Moment Things Turned Around (RIJ #5)

Have you ever wondered when life actually starts to turn around? Not when things feel “fine,” not when you’re slowly improving.

I mean the moment, the pivot point, where your life stops spiraling downward and starts moving in the other direction.

For me, I remember exactly when that moment came. But before I get to it, let me share something most people don’t realize: There is no such thing as balance.

We are always either growing or disintegrating...In our relationships. In our health. In our finances. In our purpose.

We always know where we stand, because we feel it. And when we’re honest with ourselves, we can sense when things are going up or quietly crumbling.

I want to talk to you today about a powerful but little-understood Universal Law that almost ruined me. It’s called The Law of Relativity.

Most people don’t even know it exists. But it governs how we feel about ourselves, how we view others, and how we make decisions, every single day.

When Everything Fell Apart

After earning my Master’s degree in Social Work, I landed what should have been a “great” government job. Steady pay.

A nice apartment. Benefits. I was young, hopeful, and ready to build the life I had worked so hard for.

But within months, it all felt wrong. The salary didn’t stretch far. The work was emotionally exhausting.

The commute was long and nerve-wracking, especially with my fear of high bridges (and in Pittsburgh, there are plenty).

But it was more than just logistics. It wasn’t me. I felt trapped. Anxious. Empty.

I had spent years climbing a ladder that was leaning against the wrong wall. After nearly five years, I couldn’t do it anymore.

I quit. I took a risk on a business that didn’t pay. And before I knew it, I had lost everything.

I was back at my mom’s house.

No income.

No partner.

No home of my own.

And a newborn baby to care for all alone.

I was ashamed. Paralyzed. And deeply, painfully depressed.

The Universal Law That Nearly Destroyed Me

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was being crushed by The Law of Relativity.

Here’s how it works:

Nothing in life is big or small, good or bad, until you compare it to something else. That’s it!

You see, a room isn’t “small” until you step into a mansion.
Your car isn’t “old” until you park next to a brand-new Mercedes.

Your life isn’t “failing” until you scroll through social media and see weddings, vacations, and people announcing promotions and picture-perfect families.

That’s what I did. All day, every day. I looked at my life and compared it to what others had:

They had husbands.

They had homes.

They had careers.

They looked happy.

And me? I had nothing—or so I thought. The more I compared, the smaller I felt. And the deeper I sank.

That’s the danger of this law—when you don’t understand it, it will silently work against you.

The Moment That Changed Everything

One day, I was sitting in a room with my baby girl. I was watching her roll back and forth on the bed, giggling with the kind of joy only a child can know.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, everything went still.
My mind stopped racing. And a quiet clarity came over me.

I saw her smile. I saw life. I saw hope. Then I noticed the roof above my head.
I noticed the warmth of the room.

I noticed that I had food, clothes, and a place to lay my head. I had something. I had everything. That was the turning point.

Because in that moment, I stopped comparing. I stopped measuring myself against others.

I stopped giving the Law of Relativity the power to destroy me. Instead, I used it to lift me.

A Mirror Moment

One day, I remember listening to a self-help guru telling a story that made it all click. He talked about his younger days when he never missed happy hour.

He was always broke, late on rent, driving a beat-up car, not taking care of himself, but he always found money to drink with the same group of guys every evening.

One night, while everyone was laughing, he looked around and noticed something new:

These men didn’t shave. They looked like they had given up. And suddenly he realized, I’m one of them.

That mirror moment changed everything for him. He walked out of that bar and never returned.

He saw the Law of Relativity working in his favor, because the comparison shocked him into change. But in my case, it was doing the opposite.

Every time I compared myself to those who seemed “ahead,” I felt smaller, weaker, more defeated.

Only when I removed the comparison and looked within, did I start to rise.

How to Use the Universal Law of Relativity in Your Favor

Here’s the truth: This law is always in effect. Whether you know it or not, it’s working on you. The question is:

Is it working for you… or against you?

- Compare yourself to those who seem better off, and you might feel despair.

- Compare yourself to those with less, and you might feel arrogant or numb.

- But compare yourself to yourself, who you were yesterday and you will stay grounded in truth.

That day in the room with my daughter was the beginning of my comeback. It started with one thought:

I’m grateful. And from there, I began to rebuild. Gratitude gave me momentum. And momentum gave me life.

Examine Where You’re Measuring

Don’t let comparison destroy your spirit. Don’t let the Law of Relativity operate in the background of your life, silently stealing your joy.

Examine where you’re measuring yourself. Shift the frame. Focus on what’s real. Focus on what’s yours.

Because when you stop looking outward, and start honoring what’s already within, you begin to rise. That was my moment. Maybe this is yours.

And believe it or not, there are 11 more Universal Laws that are shaping your life every day, whether you realize it or not.

I’ll share more about those in my next post. Until then, take a moment. Look around. And give thanks. It might just save your life.