“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” ~ John F. Kennedy

4 Life-Changing Lessons Ocean Teaches Us

Standing at the beach looking at the angry and wild ocean currents moving toward me, I saw life – ever-changing, aggressive, persistent, yet silent.

Just like the ocean, life is calm sometimes. But it can also be wild and ruthless when it wants to deliver its teachings with lasting effect.

The quality of lessons changes over time. Its content depends on the abilities and goals of disciples it is teaching. But one thing remains the same: the rules behind the process of delivering its ideas.

Here are 4 Vital Life Lessons Ocean Teaches Us:

1. Motion

“No man can ever step in the same river twice for it’s not the same river and he is not the same man.” ~ Heraclitus

The constant nature of change exhibits itself more profoundly in the ocean. When we look at the ocean, what we see is a mass of water currents moving back and forth at different speeds and different strengths. Sometimes, the waves cover a bigger portion of the beach and other times they smooth out to calmly move in the deeper part of the ocean.

Life also doesn’t stop moving.

It will keep its generosity available to all of us. But we need to acknowledge this generosity to benefit from it. We have to look at the currents, anticipate the kind of gifts we will receive and prepare ourselves to welcome them upon arrival.

2. Aggression

One of the many vital life lessons ocean teaches us is aggression. A big part of life is defined by adversities. There are times when we feel how the ocean of life is trying to throw us backwards. Sometimes the ocean throws us out. Sometimes, it eats us up, and at other times it doesn’t even take us in. When this happens, we need to keep faith in our mentor – life. It is only shuffling our reality to show us more crucial elements of our lives. It wants us to align our vision with that of life.

Sometimes, it simply wants us to let go of our beliefs. And other times it wants us to start over again.

The courage we have to gather to face the ocean with all its terrors and cruelty is immense. But the strength we get from facing the roughness of currents is worth bracing ourselves.

3. Persistence

So, what does life want from us when it appears angry and ruthless? It clearly doesn’t want aggression as fighting back with aggression as that will only lead to a feeling of helplessness. It also doesn’t want us to give in as it is not our enemy.

It wants us to fight in a way it has taught us to fight in calmer times – fight with assertiveness, commitment, and perseverance.

We have to maintain our control of the minimum or maximum power that life has left with us at any time. The moment we lose our smallest capability, even if it allows us to feel grateful for waking up early, we start walking our road to failure. The most difficult action in life is to maintain our position in hard times. Only the process of regaining ones’ strengths can outweigh this difficulty.

When waters are angry, we need to hold our ground. The more sand we lose from beneath our feet the more vulnerable we get to the pull of returning waves.

4. Silence

Silence is one of the many vital life lessons ocean teaches us. Even the greatest lessons of life are taught and learned silently. In most cases, if we are not silent, we are not paying attention and ultimately not learning.

Under the layers of blood-curdling screams, joyful claims, and triumphant vows, life is nothing but vibrating silence. Those who come in alignment with this silence come to an understanding of the love life holds for them.

Complaining, boasting, threatening, and arguing only keeps us away from the silent callings of life. If we pause for some moments on a daily basis to reflect on who we are and what our lives are, we would see the silent figure of life waiting for us with arms wide open.

What about you?

How is your life right now? Are the currents of your life smooth? Or are they attacking you with full force? Are they pleasant showering you with happiness? Or are they destructive pulling earth beneath your feet? What kind of lessons life’s ocean is teaching you? You can share your comment in the comment section below 🙂

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