The Four Seasons of Sustainable Success: Unlocking the Power of Cyclical Living
"The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life." ~ B.K.S. Iyengar
I love getting stuff done.
The thrill of creativity, the satisfaction of being productive, the love for my work – these drive me.
And so I do more and more and more until my calendar resembles a puzzle with no white spaces, leaving me feeling constricted, strained, and oddly detached from the joy that once defined my tasks.
Can you relate?
In a world that champions constant effort as the sole path to achievement, I found myself with a version of me and my life I barely recognised, let alone cherished. And not for the first time - I needed to learn the lessons of burnout twice before I encountered the revolutionary concept of cyclical living – a practice that completely changed my perspective and opened up me up to a new way of being.
Cyclical living is simple yet profound: it's about aligning ourselves with the rhythms that permeate our lives. Consider this: your body is a symphony of rhythms, from the steady rhythm of your heart to the soothing rhythm of your breath. Every aspect of your being follows a rhythm, just like the world outside. The changing seasons and the waxing and waning of the Moon are testaments to this innate dance of existence.
Think of cyclical living as dancing in tune with the cycles within and around you – the seasons, the Moon's phases, your menstrual cycle, or even your circadian rhythm. These principles can be applied not only to your internal cadence but also to your projects, meetings, and time management strategies - everything we touch has its own rhythm.
You're human, not a machine. Machines might run tirelessly, but humans? We thrive in harmony with our natural rhythms. Ignoring this innate cadence in favour of a non-stop lifestyle disrupts our equilibrium and our equanimity. The modern world's conveniences tempt us into disregarding these cycles. Artificial lights blur the lines between night and day. Gadgets perpetuate the illusion of constant availability. We override our body's cues with stimulants, sedatives, and stress.
There is another way.
When you live cyclically, you:
Structure Your Days for Peak Energy: Harness your peak energy times for focused tasks and save lower-energy periods for restoration.
Complete Projects with Transition Cycles: Align project completions with natural transition phases to boost sustainable productivity so you're not continuing to invest unnecessary energy.
Balance Active and Rest Phases: Make space for all cycle phases, nurturing both your active and reflective states.
Find Pleasure in Endings: Take pleasure in wrapping up tasks and gradually transitioning to a slower pace.
This approach allows you to get more done in a sustainable and, dare I say it, pleasurable way. You avoid burnout by working with your natural patterns instead of resisting them.
Every cycle has the same basic structure.
There's a period of getting started, a period of doing the thing, a period of turning off and a period of not doing the thing.
A Lifetime of Flourishing: Your Journey into Holistic Wellbeing
Commencing your journey into cyclical living doesn't require grand leaps – it thrives on gradual, intentional progress.
Start small – choose one thing to integrate each week. Experiment, adapt, and observe the changes. This isn't a race, there's no end to this particular journey and no gold star for doing it right.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Mindful Morning Rituals: Begin your day with a few minutes of deep breathing, meditation, or stretching. Allow yourself to start slowly (and yes, that means not picking up your phone straight away).
Break Up the Day: Divide your work tasks into focused periods of productivity, followed by short breaks to maintain sustainable energy throughout the day.
Social Engagement: Schedule social events and meetings during phases when your communication and social energy are naturally heightened and give yourself permission to be a hermit from time to time.
Follow Your Flow: Do activities that require you to focus and concentrate nearer to the beginning of your day and more creative, out-of-the-box thinking later in the day to harness the power of your circadian rhythm.
Journal Reflection: Set aside time at the end of each week to reflect on your experiences and emotions. This self-awareness practice enhances your connection with your inner rhythms and will help you learn from your experience.
Digital Detox: Dedicate at least one period of rest each day to disconnect from digital devices. Embrace quiet moments to recharge your mind and soul.
Nature Breaks: Go for a walk to restore your energy during an afternoon lull.
Follow the Moon: Set intentions for personal growth and development during the new moon phase, and reflect and release during the full moon.
As you immerse yourself in cyclical living, remember this practice isn't just about achieving balance – it's about crafting a life that thrives in harmony with your heartbeat.
"And when all that was left was ashes, she would again clothe herself in flame.
Rising from the dust of her past to rekindle the spark of her future.
She was a Phoenix, her own salvation; rebirthed, renewed, resurrected." ~ LaRhonda Toreson
Striking the Balance: Embracing Mindful Harmony
Cyclical living is not another stick to beat yourself with. Your journey into cyclical living doesn't demand perfection; rather, it thrives on progress. Cultivating balance doesn't require perfection – it's an opportunity to navigate each cycle with a little bit more grace.
There will be aspects of cyclical living that you are already well-practised at - maybe they're even overdeveloped strengths. Others will feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The goal, if there is one, is to move through life harnessing the power of all four phases.
It's not possible to live in 100% alignment with all our cycles. For one thing, cycles are fractal so you might be in the spring of one, the summer of another, the autumn somewhere else and in deep need of a winter nap.
The practice is to pay more attention to where you are in any given cycle and then make the 1% shifts that allow you to tend to yourself and tend to the world around you.
Unlock Your Potential: Take the Next Step
Your journey into cyclical living begins now.
Unlock your potential by downloading my free resource, a comprehensive guide to aligning with your cycles.
If you're seeking personalised guidance, I offer a 1:1 coaching partnership that'll guide you towards sustained growth, authenticity, and fulfilment.