Jultagi, or tightrope walking, is a Korean intangible cultural heritage in which performers walk across a rope suspended in midair while showcasing acrobatics, dance, and even song.
The rope they walk on is just 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) thick. The only tool used for balance is a simple fan held in one hand. As the tightrope walker sways on the rope, it often looks as if they might fall at any moment, making the audience hold their breath in suspense. Yet the performer continues forward, step by step—sometimes crouching and rising again using the rope’s rebound, or even leaping into the air with incredible precision.
What allows the performer to move so freely on such a precarious rope is this: they never lose their center of balance. The strength that keeps them from falling, despite all the shaking and swaying, lies in maintaining their core. Every wobble and tremble is actually part of the process of keeping that balance.
Our minds are much the same. At times, we feel pulled in every direction, uncertain and unsteady. But as long as we don’t lose our inner balance, those moments of instability are simply part of the journey toward equilibrium. When we stay centered—even as we sway—we can keep moving forward with steady, confident steps.