Embracing the Ebbs to Live in the Flows
We have all felt the ebbs and flows of life. They are a part of being human, existing with others around us.
We see this same rhythmic balance in nature as well. The waxing and waning moon cycles, the push and pull of the tides, the changing of the seasons.
There are times of plenty, like summer gardens bursting with colour, and there are times of rest, like the quiet restoration of winter. And sometimes ebbs and flows of life can happen within the same season.
For example, here we are in the middle of summer. A time often punctuated by both rest and busyness. Perhaps you have kids in camp or at home. There can be camping trips, which require a great deal of planning or organizing. But there are also campfires and fireflies and beach days lying by the water.
The ebb of planning around vacations and picking up extra work to make room for colleagues being away. The flow of finding time off yourself to rest, recover and breathe.
Summer’s Reminder
The phrase “ebb and flow” reminds us that change is constant. That there is a rhythm to things.
Summer can be a powerful reminder to honour that rhythm; to seek balance, not just between work and rest, but within every aspect of our lives.
Moving more in tune with nature is great for our minds, bodies, and spirits. Yet, there can still be a reluctance around leaning into downtime. As if rest is not part of what it means to be productive.
Life is cyclical, even though we’re often taught to live as though it’s linear. Our education system reinforces this idea: always moving forward, always achieving. Productivity as an adult means working and doing and being busy 24/7.
Yet, rest and recovery are part of the pattern of life. Like we see in the garden, there can be no bountiful season without a season of rest and recovery for the soil.
The Value of Recovery
Have you ever played sports or worked out with a coach? The coach knows that pushing too hard is not good and that real success means respecting what our body needs. Rest is our recovery time, and it’s a very important part of the process. In fact, if we skip the rest portion, we risk injury.
What does that look like when it comes to our mental and emotional health?
Scientists have studied this phenomenon of rest when it comes to overall health, from which they came to two conclusions:
Rest varied by individual.
Rest changed the person’s previous state of being in some way.
So while I’ll share some ideas for rest and recovery, know this: it’s not a one-size-fits-all journey. Think about what works for you.
For some, rest might mean being on the water, boating, swimming, or kayaking. For others, it could be reading in a hammock with no one else around. Rest is deeply personal. And depending on your current state, you might need more than a moment to fully restore.
Lean into the Ebb
There’s a scene in the 90s movie City Slickers where the old cowboy (played by Jack Palance) tells a struggling man that a two-week vacation won’t undo the 50 weeks of knots he's tied into his rope.
But even a short break can spark change.
It can be a precursor to a life lived more in balance with nature. It’s like taking a sip from a full glass, then learning how to keep it filled throughout the year.
Finding your ebb can mean finding your flow, essentially.
This balance will help you recover and grow strong. Just like our muscles rip and tear in the activity and grow stronger in the recovery.
Rest for the Whole Self
Nursing teachers in the rest study defined rest as “anything that gave them freedom from daily endeavour, leisure, and recovery to the entire human being: to body, soul, and spirit.”
So, what does your entire being need this summer? Here are a few soul-nourishing suggestions:
Make a Summer Playlist
Music is incredibly healing. Pick a variety of songs and styles, like music from your youth to stimulate fond memories, upbeat dance tunes for puttering around the house, and relaxing meditative music that will stimulate nervous system healing (look for music in 528 Hz). What is your soundtrack for the summer of 2025?
Start a Summer Journal
It can be a variety of writing styles, drawings, lists of things you want to do or have done. It can be similar to a travel journal and filled with odds and ends of things you’ve done this summer.
These are your memories in the making. Rather than capturing everything on your camera, try other modalities: words, illustrations, bullet points, coloured pens. Something fun. It’s summer after all.
Plan One Day Just for You
That may look like time with your family. But it may also include time to yourself, if you can find a day.
Maybe it’s a spa day, a solo trip to the farmers' market, puttering around a craft store or simply reading by the lake.
Even if you choose to be with other people, ask yourself, ‘How is this day for me?’ You’ll find the restoration is in the answer.
Fresh Air & Gentle Movement
Don’t let the season slip by without getting outside. Whether it's walking barefoot in the grass, stretching on your deck, or watching the clouds drift, lean into these things as treasures rather than a list of to-dos and I-have-to’s.
This may also include staying hydrated and getting a good night’s sleep, but only because it feels so good.
See these ways of caring for yourself as a gift. You’re restoring health and well-being. Doesn’t it feel amazing?
Ground Yourself in the Elements
Time in nature can be the most restorative thing you can do. Spend time in all four elements - air, earth, water, fire.
Remind yourself that you are part of a creation that has been here long before and will hopefully be here long after.
As a Leo, fire is my first love, and burning stuff is so cathartic for me. So campfires and candles are always a part of my summer. My husband is a Pisces, so being near the water is also a regular part of this season for us.
What is your astrological element? Maybe just start there.
Do the Things You Loved as a Child
Ride bikes. Go barefoot. Play with friends. Eat ice cream. Cuddle under a blanket with your family on movie night. Eat when you’re hungry. Watch bugs, birds, fish with wonder. Marvel at the night sky. Ask deep questions about life. Sleep deeply. Don’t worry about a thing. Just BE.
Find Your Flow
Next month I’ll write more about how to take what you’ve learned in the ebb of summer into the flow of fall. For now, see if you can let go and be in the active place of rest and recovery.
If you find yourself struggling to slow down, that’s okay. Just notice it. Maybe jot down what’s coming up in your journal. The simple act of noticing is part of healing.
As Michael Singer says in his book The Untethered Soul, “The spiritual journey is one of constant transformation.” Let yourself be transformed by all the beautiful things summer has to offer.
We’ll talk about how to move into flow next month.