On Ecosystems

One morning during our holiday travels last month, I took my son to a science museum. There was a section dedicated to ecosystems with a definition on display that I had to photograph (and have been thinking about ever since):

An ECOSYSTEM includes all living things in a given area, their interactions, and the influence of non-living factors.

My mind quickly connected this definition to embodiment work. Although the idea of the body functioning similarly to an ecosystem is not new to me, I found myself embracing this perspective more fully.

I think we’re all well aware by now that our movement and nourishment patterns have an effect on the state of our bodies (and our minds). But when we consider all living things and their interactions and non-living factors our lens widens.

Sleep quality. Relationship satisfaction. Stress levels. Nervous system response patterns. Financial Status. Friendship, community, work environment, personality… And on and on.

The contributing factors to our physical and mental experiences are endless. While that might sound daunting, I see it as having more opportunities for meaningful impact. It also has meant for me that I value sleep and spending time with people I love just as highly as moving my body or eating vegetables.

Whether you’re in a season of overhaul and reconfiguration, or if you’ve found a rhythm that works well in your life, try out an expanded view with a simple approach and see if it helps your practice too.

A simple prompt to begin the process:

What elements in your ecosystem are thriving?
Which elements could use some attention and care?

Happy practicing,
Sarah