I often use the sea, waves, and ocean as a powerful metaphor for the human experience. Just as the waves of the sea rise and fall, so do our thoughts and feelings. And just as the ocean is vast, deep, and unchanging, so is our deeper intelligence and consciousness.
When we look at our lives through the lens of this metaphor, we begin to see that we are both the waves and the ocean. The waves are our thoughts and feelings in the moment, constantly coming and going, rising and falling. They can be turbulent, chaotic, and overwhelming, just like the waves of the sea during a storm.
But just as the ocean remains calm and steady beneath the surface of the waves, so too does our deeper intelligence and consciousness remain unchanging amidst the ups and downs of our thoughts and feelings. This deeper part of us is like the vastness of the ocean, unbounded and infinite, holding within it the potential for growth, transformation, and expansion.
When we start to see ourselves as both the waves and the ocean, we begin to open up our hearts and minds to the full human experience. We realise that the waves of our thoughts and feelings are not something to be feared or avoided, but rather something to be embraced and explored. We can ride the waves, experiencing the full range of our emotions, without getting swept away by them.
At the same time, we can also tap into the calm and steady wisdom of our deeper intelligence and consciousness. We can access the vastness of the ocean within us, allowing it to guide us through life's challenges and uncertainties.
This is not to say that life will always be smooth sailing. Just like the sea, there will be storms and rough waters to navigate. Work can be overwhelming like the waves; we can get tumbled and thrown about. We may at these times only experience the waves and lose sight of the ocean of potential beneath. But it is there waiting for us to fall back into it. A place where we can settle, be calm and gain a greater perspective knowing the ocean is always there constant and ever present. When we recognise ourselves as both the waves and the ocean, we gain a deeper understanding of how life really works from the inside out. We begin to see that our thoughts and feelings are not who we truly are, but rather passing experiences that come and go like the waves of the sea.
By embracing the metaphor of the sea, waves, and ocean, we can start to live more fully, with greater openness, curiosity, and resilience. We can let go of our attachments to the passing waves of our thoughts and feelings, and instead dive deep into the vastness of our true selves. And in doing so, we can discover the beauty and wonder of life, unfolding moment by moment, like the endless ebb and flow of the sea.
Aroha
Judith
