Gurdjieff postulated that every event is the result of the interaction of three forces. An active, a passive, and a neutralising force. Not only physical events, but also intellectual and indeed spiritual events also.
In brief there is always a positive active force and a negative passive opposing force and a 3rd force which affects the way the opposing forces interact.

Regarding the initial attempts at analysing the structure of the atom, the scientists early, clearly, identified 2 main elements in the structure of the atom. The active, positive proton and the passive, negative electron elements. but Rutherford determined that there must be a 3rd element. Of course eventually the 3rd element the neutrino was found.

In philosophical studies, Kant formulated this in his own unique way. He postulated a concept to explain a particular phenomena called it a hypothesis or THESIS. No sooner had this been made clear as a hypothetical observation than someone else postulated a different hypothesis opposing the first one called an ANTITHESIS.
And the two thesis’s battled against each other until some one was able to see the benefit and shortcomings of both Thesis and antithesis and postulated a a 3rd position, a synthesis.

Our ancient sages said exactly the same about 2000years ago, which we recite every morning before the main prayers, beginning at Hodu.
”Rabbi Yishmael said that the Torah is expounded by 13 principles. The 13th says,

When two biblical passages seem to contradict each other they can be reconciled by a third biblical text which reconciles them”

Gurdjieff/Ouspesky explain that the Law Of three forces always operates in any event. Indeed doing a search on the Number 3, on Goggle, we find about three million entries for triad-ic phenomena, enough to satisfy anybody interested in the number 3 or the Law of Three Forces.

A second law, which is connected, is that no series of events proceeds in a straight line. There are always ups and downs which he covers in THE LAW OF OCTAVES, which we will discuss later.

In practice we encounter these two laws every time we set out to do a practical task and become distracted.

For example we set out to clean the dust of all the books in the bookcase and find a book we haven’t looked at for years and sit down to look at it and the good intentions are gone.

We resolve to loose weight and not eat so much unhealthy food, but at the first sight of the kitkat at the checkout we are on a different tack.

We set out to come to these classes and can you believe it, every time something gets in the way.

The example most important to us is meditation. We resolve to follow the instructions, but in no time we are off again on some trivial thoughts.

The diagram below shows a circle of 9 points and is the precursor of the famous Gurdjeffian Aeniogram. The positions of 3, 6 and 9 represent the three special forces that come into play, one after the other, in any event. Each one different and with its own special characteristics. Gurdjieff suggested that when we can see all three at once we will have a better understanding of the event.

The easiest force to identify and understand is at position 3. This represents an interruption to our aim. It is always related to a force which comes from outside, distracting us from our original intentions, hence the arrow,

We are always looking, hoping and ready for this exciting outside force to give us some stimulation or nourishment; physically, psychologically or spiritually. Anything to distract us from our feeling of boredom