Ebb and Flow
The other day I was catching up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. After the normal pleasantries she graciously asked – “how are you REALLY doing?” To which I replied,
“Well, I’m ebbing.”
“You’re what?” she said with a confused look on her face.
“I’m ebbing. You know how things Ebb and Flow? Well, right now I am definitely not flowing. I am
ebbing.” And we both laughed knowingly at what this familiar cycle feels like.
Tides ebb and flow. The moon’s gravitational pull puts a force on the Earth which most noticeably effects our oceans – giving the water in one geographic location the energy to surge forward and rise, while in another location, the energy diminishes and the water retreats and the shore feels exposed.
Our lives ebb and flow as well. Despite what the social media world and all of the inspirational speakers and corporate taglines want to tell you – “Choose to Be Happy! You’ve Got This! Be Your Best Self! Just Do It! Carpe Diem!” – it is normal and part of our ongoing rhythm to sometimes feel like NOT being happy, that you DON’T feel like “Doing It” (in more ways than one!) and that seizing the day just seems like a monumental task that needs to be put off to some future date. That is ebbing. Your energy has
diminished, your motivation is retreating and that in turn leaves us feeling exposed and vulnerable since we are not performing at the level we know we are capable of and instead feel that we are letting others and ourselves down. Yet it is so important to allow yourself to ebb! Ebbing is what ultimately allows our “well” to clear itself out and then re-charge. Ebbing is that quieter, less frenetic phase that allows us to observe the world around us more carefully and clearly and which ultimately provides new perspective.
The important thing is to recognize this shift in energy – and instead of trying to resist it and convince and force yourself “to stay on top of your game”, allow yourself to succumb to the ebb – and even embrace
it. Forgive yourself for allowing your high energy routines to falter a bit or even a lot (I haven’t exercised
regularly in over three months). Forgive yourself for the things you cannot attend to. Don’t allow pessimism and guilt to creep into the corners of your mind – instead, just recognize that you are ebbing.
It’s as normal as the tides in the oceans.
Next time you see a motivational tagline that just isn’t resonating, try these two out instead:
“Embrace the Ebb!” or “Effing Ebbing It!”
Eventually you’ll get your flow back and will be surging forward once again.
- Ewe Bee U
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