A Blissful Life 5/12/25: Trusting The Rhythms Of Life

Some seasons in life feel like storms. They are chaotic, dark, and uncertain. During these times, the sky within us feels heavy. Our nervous systems contract, our hearts ache, and we often wonder: Will things ever feel light again?

But just as nature teaches us through cycles of day and night, or storm and sun, contraction is not the end– it’s part of the rhythm. It’s part of the process of expansion. It’s the space before something new emerges.

We see this truth woven into the very fabric of life. The heart, in order to sustain us, must contract to pump blood and expand to receive it. The breath, too, is both rise and fall: the inhale opens, the exhale releases. One cannot exist without the other. If the heart only expanded, or the lungs only inhaled, life would cease.

This rhythm– contract, expand; gather, release; fall, rise– is not random. It is sacred. And it is reflected not only in our biology, but in the seasons of our lives.

Dr. Sue Morter, my mentor and a teacher of energy medicine and embodiment, often reminds us that breakdown is the precursor to breakthrough. When life feels like it’s closing in around us, it’s not punishment or failure– it’s an invitation to re-pattern, to pause, and to return inward before moving forward with greater clarity and alignment.

Think about nature: the seed must break before it sprouts. Winter must come before spring. Trees let go of their leaves to conserve energy for the next cycle of growth. Nothing in nature is always blooming– and neither are we.

We will all face times that feel like contraction: loss, change, grief, uncertainty, fear. These periods are not only unavoidable– they are essential. They offer us the sacred pause– a slowing down, and a chance to reassess what really matters. To feel our emotions deeply, to tend to what’s been neglected, and to rebuild.

And then, slowly, sometimes subtly, expansion begins again. The breath comes in; the light returns; the body softens; we find our footing; and we realize we’ve grown– not in spite of the storm, but because of it.

The truth is, transformation rarely happens in perfect conditions, but rather in the moments that break us open. The times that humble us, bring us to our knees, strip away the distractions, and ask us to listen. They are a calling to be still, and to trust the unseen.

What if the hard times weren’t a detour, but the exact path your soul needed to walk? Dr. Sue teaches that energy moves in patterns, and when those patterns are disrupted, it’s not a mistake– it’s evolution. It’s your body and being shifting into a higher coherence. Into more wholeness. Into alignment with who you truly are.

So if you’re in the middle of a storm, or coming out of one, or bracing for the next, know this: contraction is not the opposite of growth. It is part of it. It is the container that prepares you to receive more. More love. More truth. More light.

There is wisdom in the darkness, and there is light on the other side. The heart will beat again, the breath will flow again, and you will expand– not in spite of the storm, but as a result of walking through it with presence, with grace, and with faith in the rhythm of life. Hold on. The light always comes.

Come join us at Ocean Bliss Yoga for yoga and pilates classes, along with a variety of monthly workshops. Sign up at oceanblissyoga.net. We are located on the third floor of the Belle Harbor Yacht Club– parking available in the lot downstairs. All are welcome. Additionally, if you are interested in an upcoming 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher Training, call or text me at 917-318-1168. Looking forward to connecting soon!