Before your two best friends started fighting, you were all really good friends. You and Jenny had a positive relationship. You and Gina had a positive relationship. Jenny and Gina also had a positive relationship. Three positive relationships result in a balanced state, or a situation that is psychologically comfortable.
Let's think of the positive and negative relationships in the triangle as a math equation. When you add three positives, the result will also be positive.
Balanced P-O-X triangle with three positive relationships.
P-O-X Triangle
We also have a balanced state when there are two negative relationships with one positive relationship. One example would be you having a positive relationship with Jenny and a negative relationship with Gina. If Jenny also has a negative relationship with Gina, psychological balance occurs because the relationships in the triangle do not conflict with one another.
Again, think of the positives and negatives in the triangle as a math equation. When you add two negatives they become a positive. If you add this positive to another positive, the result is positive. Using this idea, we can see that you could also have a negative relationship with Jenny and a positive relationship with Gina and achieve balance as long as a negative relationship exists between Jenny and Gina to balance out the equation.
Balanced P-O-X triangle with two negative relationships and one positive relationship.
P-O-X Triangle
These are the type of situations we want to have and what we are trying to accomplish. When we are comfortable in a balanced state, we have no distress, and there is no need for us to seek a change in our relationships.