The Natural Ebb and Flow of Life
"Let us follow our destiny, ebb and flow, whatever may happen, we master fortune by accepting it." -Virgil
Why did I name my practice Ebb and Flow? There is a lot of significance to that term for me in my own life and in the lives of my clients.
Our culture is built on the idea of more, more more. If you work at a big company, they always want the company to increase profits, year after year. We were taught to always be moving up and getting more, doing more, being more. I find this belief to be incredibly toxic and harmful. Humans were not designed to live this kind of rhythm. Just as we are apart of nature, we ebb and flow with the changing seasons. We have seasons of growth and expansion and seasons of solitude and rest. A great example is living here in the PNW during the wintertime. So many people are walking around in the winter saying they have Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a term to describe a depressive episode that is usually linked to winter. Want to hear my take on this depression diagnosis? I think we made it up. Literally. Humans are meant to sleep more during winter, to rest more, to store up energy, to go to bed earlier and sleep in later. We are meant to live within the light of the day and then rest with the dark. Our culture does not allow for this. We must keep going at the same rate with all areas- jobs, routines, social calendars, etc. This is what causes the feelings of seasonal affective disorder. We believe we 'should' have more energy, be more excited to work out, to be just as produtive and motivated at work. And we just aren't. So we think something is wrong with us. Maybe not. Maybe we are living out of alignment with our natural rhtyhm that has been built into us since the beginning of human existence. Maybe what's making us sick is the culture, not the weather.
We can find this issue in all sorts of areas of our lives. We also see it in mental health work. This expectation that we should always be getting better, seeing results, seeing change, moving 'up.' Not true. This expectation is led by the word 'should'- a word that is tied to shame and guilt. Humans are built to ebb and flow. We are built to have periods of movement and change and periods of rest and recovery.
In what areas of your life can you see this pattern?
What does ebb and flow look like in your typical year? Month? Or even day?
Why did I choose the name Ebb and Flow for my practice? This term holds great significance for me personally and for my clients.
Our culture revolves around the idea of constant growth and accumulation. In large companies, there's a relentless push for increased profits each year. We've been taught to always strive for more, to do more, and to be more. I find this mindset to be extremely toxic and damaging. Humans weren't designed to live in this constant state. Just as we are a part of nature, we ebb and flow with the changing seasons. We experience times of growth and expansion, as well as times of solitude and rest. A perfect example is living in the PNW during winter. Many people claim to have Seasonal Affective Disorder, which describes a depressive episode often linked to winter. Here's my perspective on this diagnosis: I believe we've invented it. Humans are naturally inclined to sleep more during winter, to rest, conserve energy, go to bed earlier, and wake up later. We're meant to follow the natural light cycle, resting when it's dark. Our culture doesn't accommodate this. We're expected to maintain the same pace in all areas—jobs, routines, social activities, etc. This is what leads to feelings of seasonal affective disorder. We think we should have more energy, be eager to exercise, and remain productive and motivated at work. But we aren't, leading us to believe something is wrong. Perhaps not. Perhaps we're simply out of sync with our natural rhythm, ingrained in us since the dawn of humanity. Maybe it's the culture making us unwell, not the weather.
This issue is evident in various aspects of our lives, including mental health. There's an expectation to always improve, see results, and progress. This isn't true. This expectation is driven by the word 'should'—a word linked to shame and guilt. Humans are designed to ebb and flow, to have phases of movement and change, and phases of rest and recovery.
In which areas of your life do you notice this pattern?
What does ebb and flow look like in your typical year, month, or even day?