Crossing Your Own Ocean, In Your Own Boat

Crossing Your Own Ocean, In Your Own Boat

Life is often compared to a journey, but to understand (figuratively, not clinically) why some of us might struggle more with mental health, let's imagine life as crossing an ocean.

This ocean can be calm or stormy - just like the highs and lows we all experience. Calm seas stand for the good times, where everything seems manageable and even peaceful. The sun is shining, a light breeze propels you forward, and things feel pretty smooth.

But we know the calm never lasts forever. Eventually, stormy seas roll in - towering waves, fierce winds, and lashing rain that represent stress, loss, uncertainty, or heartbreak. These storms challenge our ability to stay afloat and keep going.

Here’s the twist: not everyone navigates the ocean in the same way.

Different Boats, Different Challenges

The “boat” you’re in reflects a blend of factors: genetics, upbringing, lived experiences, and your own psychological makeup. Essentially, it’s the sum of how resilient and well-equipped you are when life’s toughest moments hit.

Let's get figurative - what type of boat have you got?

• A Cruise Ship - Some folks have a cruise ship: big, steady, and stocked with every resource they might need. When storms come, they might barely feel it. They can keep up with their daily routine, protected from the worst of the weather.

• A Fishing Boat - Others are in a sturdy fishing boat - still reliable, but far from comfortable. It demands constant attention to keep on course, and once a storm hits, it rocks with every wave.

• A Small Dinghy - Some have a little dinghy with a small motor - enough to glide along in calm waters, but when the waves pick up, it’s a serious battle to stay upright.

• A Kayak - Then there are those with just a kayak - sitting right on top of the water, feeling every bump. There’s hardly room to rest, so you have to paddle constantly. Even a minor squall can feel huge.

• A Life Ring - Some only have a life ring - no cover, no real way to move forward. Every swell can push them under, forcing them to fight for every breath.

• Or are you Swimming - finally, there are people who have nothing at all - just their own strength to keep them afloat. Their entire focus is on survival, one wave at a time.

On a calm day, it might be hard to spot the difference between someone on a cruise ship and someone clinging to a life ring (ok I know, that's a stretch, but bare with me). They might all drift along looking like they’re doing just fine.

But once the storm hits, the difference is impossible to ignore:

• Who can ride out the storm with relative ease?

• Who has to battle just to keep their head above water?

• Who ends up exhausted when the storm finally passes?

Those with bigger, sturdier boats might not fully grasp how extreme the storm feels for others. They have enough stability and resources to weather rough waters, so they can still make progress, think clearly, and maybe lend a hand to someone else who’s struggling.

But for people in smaller boats - or without any boat at all - the storm takes over everything. It consumes every drop of energy they have just to avoid sinking. They aren’t thinking about growth or new horizons; they’re just trying to survive.

We’re all out here on the same ocean, but some of us are just trying not to go under.