Tranquility, Let me see if this makes more sense.

Open attachment to see drawing.

Line 1 is your life line. Or the way you expect / want your life to be. When you hit the "Pothole" your alignment gets knocked off. The farther / longer you go off of "correct alignment" ,the more symptoms and the more severe the symptoms. (In my experiance) When you do what is needed to get you back on the right path (Line 1). Things get better.

I hope this makes more sense