You Are The Ocean - July 15

What if it isn't external circumstances that make you feel a certain way, but the rise and fall of unsettled emotions? In today's 5 Minutes In Nature, Liz sees the lessons embedded in her caring responsibilities for her mum. Rather than see herself as needing to control life, she sees instead that she is like a wave on the ocean.

And if she is a wave ... then who she truly is, is the ocean itself.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in Nature with me Liz Scott, Walking along the streets of Exeter on a morning. Last night, If you followed me yesterday on Five Minutes in Nature, You would have known that I was at my mum's house. I help look after mum, She's very elderly and she's got dementia and she's very immobile and as siblings we all take in turns just looking out for her. And it was my turn yesterday and tonight as well and tomorrow. As I went out last night I'd arrived in Exeter and I was feeling a little bit agitated and a bit frustrated and a bit impatient and the pace of life I'm used to living, Which to be honest isn't fast, I just felt was going really slow and everything is so slow with dear old mum. And I went out for a walk and that's when I spoke with you and I didn't have a very good night's sleep last night because my mum was so restless but I've come out for a walk again today and I feel as though I'm in a different place. And this is what I want to talk about because it's so easy. To think that external circumstances are the cause of our unsettled thinking. And that's just not the case. So I have landed today in a different place. I'm in a different frame of mind. I'm in a different mood. I have a different vibration of thought passing through me. Yesterday I felt unstable and unsteady, And today I feel resourced and grounded. What's different? Well, I didn't have a good night's sleep, But I'm in a different place. The same thing is here. I'm still looking after my mum. She's still frail. She's still very slow. All of these things are exactly the same. But the difference is that that unsettled thought that I had last night has moved on and I'm feeling once again that. Resourcefulness and that resilience which is at the heart and essence of who I am and who you are and who we all are. And the difference between how I deal with life now and how I used to deal with life is that when I felt those feelings of impatience and frustration, Which I was feeling last night, I used to think I had to do something about them. They were wrong. I needed to get rid of them. But actually I just know that they're okay. They rise up and they fall. And now, Today, I'm in a more grounded space. And I know that this is who I truly am. I can feel it. I can feel my resourcefulness. I can feel love, Very present love, Very present to being of service. And I know that at some point soon, Because I'm human, Unsettled thinking will come along and cloud that over and I'll feel a sense of frustration or impatience or that life should be a different way. The difference between how I see life now and how I used to see life is I used to think I was in the driving seat of life and somehow I had to grapple with the steering wheel of my thoughts and my negative thoughts and my positive thoughts and I needed to steer a positive life. It seemed like I was the one in charge. I don't think that anymore. I don't experience that anymore. Now I kind of feel as though I am the current of life itself. Or if I was to look at the metaphor or analogy of the ocean, I feel as though I am a wave on the ocean. I am the energy of the ocean taking form. And I guess if I say I'm a wave, I'm actually the ocean. Like I am the essence. The essence, The energy of life is taking form through me as the wave. And the ocean. Is who I truly am. So today's reflection is. . . Exactly this, Which is. . . First of all, If you are feeling unsettled, It's okay. You really don't have to beat yourself up, Get rid of it, Or do anything with those unsettled thoughts or feelings. Just notice them. And I find that in the noticing of them, I take different actions. So, For example, When I feel impatient, My actions might feel like they need to be snappy or abrupt. But when I notice my feelings of impatience, I absolutely realize that snappiness and abruptness not the way I want to behave. So even though I feel these things and I'm prompted to take an action, I don't. There's a deeper intelligence, A deeper wisdom guiding me that says, No, Just maybe take a break, Go out for a walk, Which is what I had a nudge to do last night. So the first thing is, It's okay. You feel these unsettled thoughts and feelings. That's called being human. It's absolutely fine. And the second thing is to realise that that sense of calm, Of groundedness, Of resilience, Of resourcefulness, That is who you truly are. That is your essence. That is the ocean. You are taking form as a wave. You look like you're separate from the ocean, But you're not. You are the ocean. And it really does something for me to realize that in my life. To realise that I am the energy of all life, Taking form as Liz. And as Liz, As a human being, I'm doing my best in the world. And I'm not doing a bad job, And nor are you. Let me know your reflections on this. And of course, Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

I too love the analogy of the ocean. There’s a song I sing that talks about us being “a drop in the ocean”. And that also means we are the ocean. There is no separation between us as a drop or the whole ocean. We are one and the same. I love that!

Bang on of how I felt yesterday ..
All stormy and aswirl of thought, prompted to take action to control to fix to sort it all out. Instead I took a breath and another one. Then went on with my day realizing that not every ‘sort out’ is my responsibility. Not every situation needs attention at this precise moment. And I was preparing for work, so I didn’t have time to sort anything out but getting ready.
And later, upon reflection after many hours, I realized I was snowballing all the problems. As I focused on one, it attracted others to it. Til I was agitated and feeling like I needed to DO something. But no. I needed not to. I need to sort out this moment… BE HERE NOW… and carry on.

Love your reflections Liz. We are all doing the best we can at the moment.

Thank you, Liz. I appreciate the relatable reflections that help bring me back to what is really true.

I love that analogy of you are the wave. This morning I was watching the clouds move across the sky taking their various shapes. It was interesting as I thought they are look are thoughts coming and going. None stay as is for long. Then there is a clear spot and light shines through.

Thanks Liz. ✌️❤️