Insight of the Week: The Ebb and Flow of Life

If you’ve ever spent time at the ocean, you’ve observed how the waves and tides move in and out. This cycle of ebb and flow is the same energy simply moving in an organic rhythm.  Life operates in very much the same way.

In our periods of ebb or receding, we feel as if nothing is happening because we mostly focus only on the exterior of our life. Ebb is a period when all the “action” is taking place underneath or within. It’s the time we slow down, reflect, assess, integrate, recalibrate, and realign.

This is inner work that we carry out solo, and this is why we feel alone during periods of ebb. When we plant our seeds underground, when our roots grow deeper solidifying all we learned, when we reflect on our action, motivations, intentions and direction, when we take a time out to process and heal and to chart our next steps-  whether we continue upon our current path or embrace a new one…this is the purpose of the ebb periods of Life.  You can perceive ebb as the universe granting you a time out.

Most western society finds it challenging to be alone, as it’s become equated with feelings of low self-worth. This is not true. What is truly happening is our already existing low sense of self-worth emerges when we get quiet. Solitude and stillness bring to the forefront all and any childhood wounds, issues, difficulties, and shortcomings we perceive we have. We tend to avoid these because it’s painful and why when we find ourselves alone, we use it to numb out or distract ourselves with endless scrolling, TV bingeing, mindless outings (going out for the sake of going out even if you don’t like the people or event) etc.

However, the time of ebb is by design, and we need these moments. Understand that “alone” is our time with our inner self. It’s the time we converse with our spiritual self and divine source.  Use it to take solo walks, spend time in nature close to the Earth and its natural elements. Sit in solitude, write, pray, meditate, reflect, paint. Listen quietly to relaxing music in your own home, read without noise in the background – basically keep your energy quiet and reflective. Sitting in silence is where you touch your true self and from where you will garner direction, guidance, and clarity.  Do not speak with others, keep your journey to yourself – this is about you.

Another reason we it find it hard to be alone and embrace the ebbs of Life is because our self-love is low. However, it is in these moments when this muscle is exercised and built through the radical awareness, self-acceptance and self-forgiveness that is needed.

Use your ebb and flow as a master tool. The ebb will assist you in handling your next flow (outward action) and hopefully you will keep strengthening and evolving during ebb and so the flow will uplevel as a result.

Alone time is a necessary component of your growth and integration and balance as a human being. Do not shy away from it, no matter what internal conflict you may be feeling and comes to the surface. Use it – it’s a healing tool.

Stop, recalibrate, shift…stop recalibrate, shift!