I am Enough

What If Self-Trust Begins With Listening To The Seasons Within?

• Lyn Man at Earthaconter • Episode 27

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What if the reason you feel stretched thin isn’t a lack of discipline but a lack of tuning to the seasons? 

We dive into the tension between a culture that worships constant growth and a body that thrives on ebb and flow. Together with Mark Henderson and Alex Papworth, we explore how tuning into nature’s rhythms — and our own — brings steadier energy, sharper focus, and a kinder relationship with work and rest.

We start by reframing “productivity” through the lens of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Autumn becomes the harvest of learning; winter, the deep rest that enables renewal. Mark shares insights on the often-ignored 24‑hour male hormonal cycle and how simple choices like prioritising protein at breakfast can stabilise energy across the day. Alex reflects on small but potent rituals — a five‑minute nap, a barefoot step into the garden at dawn — that cut through mental noise and reconnect us with the world outside our walls.

The conversation widens to interconnection: our personal cycles sit inside family patterns, organisational rhythms, and ecological systems. We speak about convenience culture, the myth of permanent “summer energy,” and the creative gains that come from honouring slower seasons. Expect practical ideas you can try today, from micro-rests to cold-water dips, plus a fresh way to navigate decisions: ask “What season am I in right now?” and let that guide your next step. It’s a gentle, grounded approach to wellbeing that feels human, sustainable, and real.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs permission to rest, and leave a review telling us which simple ritual you’ll try this week.

Thank you for listening and taking the time to explore our podcast.

Earthaconter: Connection, Exploration and Expansion
www.earthaconter.org

Lyn Man:

Welcome to I Am Enough, the space where we explore journeys back to our forgotten birthright of enoughness, to draw a natural wisdom along with awareness, acceptance, and compassion. To support each of us on that journey and embrace our wholeness. Despite what society tells us, each one of us is enough exactly as we are. My name is Lyn Man, and I'd like to welcome you to this space where we explore enoughness, people's journeys along the path to feeling I am enough, and look at what can support each of us on that journey. Hello and welcome to another episode of I Am Enough, the space where we embrace our wholeness. So today I have with me Mark Henderson and Alex Papworth. And our conversation today is going to be around seasons and cycles. And we were just having a quick conversation at the start to really explore that. And it's interesting, even when we look at seasons, there's that recognition that seasons are cycles. And while it's something that we say in Europe, the UK can relate to because we have the four seasons, but they differ for everybody. They differ geographically, they differ on how we interpret them. So for me, one of the learnings has always been that if we look at the seasons, if we look back to nature and how it works in the different season cycles, you know, the the trees are going through, the deciduous trees go through different patterns in each season. And for if we look at the way we work, you know, in the way corporate or business or the way we've kind of been told we have to work, it is that ongoing spring, summer, and back again. There is very little time ever spent in autumn and harvesting and celebrating and recognizing what's going on, taking stock. And winter, where we're kind of going deeper and letting things maybe sit for a while and exploring. So I always find it interesting in how as humans we have lost that connection to of awareness to the cycles in how we work and how society tells us. And it's not just work, but just in our lives, because there are lots of different cycles. So I really would love to hear, Mark and Alex, what your experiences are.

Mark Henderson:

And I think it's it's great, Lynn, that you you talk about the awareness. And that awareness feels really important for us to reflect on the patterns that we fall into that society pushes us into, which you were talking about as well, and us feeling that we can perhaps choose a different way to come back to the natural cycles that we have as humans and living with and in the natural cycles of Earth. And it just strikes me that when we have this awareness and intention to change something, that there's a huge amount of well-being that we can we can land in for ourselves as we are more harmonious with our authentic selves and our cycles and respect those, but also become more harmonious with with Earth's cycles. And I think I think of just this year, for me, I've been exploring this more with within, you know, the the the masculine cycle, if you like, of of what happens in in the male body and and and with hormones, etc. Which is not something that is very widely talked about, perhaps, but um just as women have a a monthly cycle, men have a 24-hour cycle. Um it's it's just very interesting how having researched a bit on this, I notice a difference in in my own well-being and energy levels. So just a little personal example.

Lyn Man:

Thanks.

Alex Papworth:

Thanks, Mark. Coming after asking to send me uh any sources you've got on that. That's a new revelation to me. So that sounds very useful and interesting to read. Yeah, there's so much to explore here. I suppose pardon me, I mean, I guess it's sort of acknowledging the reality just just for a moment. So it's the turn summer, eternal spring sort of mentality we have in in the world, and in in business in particular, and you know, how that's reflected in you know economies that are required to grow constantly, forever, and and sort of, well, in some ways it's just yes, that's completely insane, and that is the reality. And yes, that continues, but it's yeah, I think just to acknowledge how how distorted things are before we start looking into how to move away from that. But um, following on from our conversation and actually recognising the seasons are different across the world, and how do you, you know, how do you see reality, I suppose, and it's gone into my mind, and there's no better source of truth spending time in the non-human natural world and just noticing what's happening. Even if we talk about seasons, I was thinking even with a sort of northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere, you know, the four-seasonal model, which is which is a representation of the truth, I guess. But even then you look at autumn and winter changing, and you know, I noticed even at this time, what late time are you, you know, just new new growth happening and thinking, well, is that normal? Is that supposed to happen? But but that's a great teacher, and uh these are all models, these are all sort of maps, and they're not, you know, the map is not the territory, as they say. So I feel like one of the most important things is is just to invest that time becoming more aware by looking at the non-human natural world because it isn't distorted, it is the truth, if you like. So I feel that's a really useful practical exercise, uh, amongst the many other reasons why spending time in nature is useful. But just to sort of sense as to where are we? You know, what is the season, what is actually happening in the moment. And just to sort of finish that off, I think one reflection I was also coming up was having just met someone is who is a source of what appears to be endless enthusiasm, which is the sort of pro-opposite of how I pretend to pretend to present myself. It's like, well, you know, it's almost like an embodiment of spring and summer. It's I feel that's probably not the truth, if you like. But uh, we all probably have our own seasons. But yeah, what what is your season? I suppose is almost like a useful question. You know, am I energized? Am I in any one time with any one particular day, you know, in that within that 24-hour cycle or whatever, what's what's the season you're expressing is um yeah, maybe a question I'll just finish with.

Lyn Man:

And I think it's interesting when you're talking about the the seasons and what's is this am I seeing what is expected right now? And I know when we lived in Switzerland for five years, every year the seasons were different. And I think it's that thing that we we have an expectation of what it should look like, and we tie things into our calendar year, so the season should start here or it should be like this now, and yet we don't take into account that that seasons and cycles change. There's other things that are impacting them that we we don't think about, but bringing it back to our own cycles and seasons, and again, I think what you both um talked about is that tuning into ourselves and being aware of what we need in that that moment and showing up from that place rather than showing up. And and it may be that you know that person is when they're with people who's very enthusiastic and does other things to depart to rejuvenate, or maybe that does rejuvenate them, and I think it is that recognizing that we're all unique and individual, and the more we understand about each ourselves and how we work, the more we can find a way to work in our own way.

Mark Henderson:

Yeah, I th I think uh for for me it's it's about authenticity and that that awareness that we've talked about of what's going on within ourselves and you know, really acknowledging that and being authentic around that rather than having to to be have a summer energy, you know, all the time with other people. It's sort of honouring what's happening within ourselves, and uh you know, we we have this tendency to to present ourselves in a certain way, and that's become part of our identity. And even although you know, we we might not be feeling that summer energy, it might be very winter, it's depressed, reflective energy, there's this sort of we we create for ourselves, and society supports that, this need to present ourselves in a certain way. So, so and that this ties into what I think is you know gives us this feeling of well-being when we can be honour ourselves and how we feel and reflect that in our interactions and just be truly present with what what energy we're we're carrying in the moment. And that that sort of authenticity, I think, is what we you know really uh serves us better and and uh creates wellness for us for ourselves.

Alex Papworth:

Yeah, that was um that was something that uh I was saying it to this many of my earlier, that's sort of how heart of my philosophy and the system is about honouring and respecting our own nature as being a starting point. I think for one you were just saying, Mark, I might almost add them you know, you know, reflecting the season as well, so reflecting our nature and how it changes over time. And um, just a quick uh aside bringing us sort of back to the current season that we're coming into of noticed. I noticed last year for the first time, and I did it or allowed myself to do it, is and started happening this week, is just noticing a need for stopping and and pausing, which actually where I just fall asleep. I don't even know what I do to be necessary. About five, ten minutes later, it feels like I've disappeared. That's the best way I can describe it. So sort of yeah, I need sort of talk about a loss of self. Anyway, that the point being in terms of the cycles, that's not something I've noticed I've noticed it happening this sort of time of year. That that sort of and um you know, as I allow it, that sort of disappearing for a few minutes, which feels very good in terms of allowing myself to do it and then and how I feel afterwards, but perhaps reflecting those seasonal cycles, and perhaps that's what um I do when you start this time of year. It feels very aligned as well. You know, an activity feels like a helpful, healthy, useful thing to do. Yeah, we know the what studies uh have shown about you know napping in during the day. Um, and you know, it's it's shown to be really health help helpful and healthy thing to do for for body and and uh brain. So uh yeah. But we yeah, there's few workplaces that but that that's acceptable or that have the facilities to be able to to do that. Working from home, what a wondrous, wondrous.

Lyn Man:

It's interesting, isn't it, when we look at our own cycles and tune more into what we need. So, and going back to what you were saying, Mark, about the 24-hour cycle within men and how it's really benefited you from tuning into that. So, what have you like, what is it specifically that you've learned from taking time to explore it?

Mark Henderson:

Well, as as I mean, testosterone is is a very important hormone for for both males and females, but particularly for for males, and is linked to energy levels. And as we age, the the level of testosterone in the body drops. But not only it's not only age, it's also diet.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Mark Henderson:

So what you eat first thing in the morning is really affects this. So things like uh anything sweet or carbohydrates is not favourable. You know, you really want to be eating protein first thing in the morning to to allow the the testosterone that's built up overnight to to continue serving you into the day. And so carbohydrates and and and other foods should you know it's fine after lunch, but not not for for breakfast. And there's other things like uh like sort of different seed oils, etc., are not you know, are are also inhibiting of of testosterone. So yeah, that's just an example, but uh there's other things, but that's one of the main the main things that I've changed. So so I eat I eat eggs for extra breakfast and not cereal as I used to uh do. So um and I've I've as I say I've really noticed the difference.

Lyn Man:

It's good to know because that almost ties in from with the sleep cycle as well, because I that I believe is similar, that your body for diff other different kind of changes of of hormones and protein and and some fats are much better in the morning and carbohydrates later in the day. So it's it's interesting how we have it's almost like we we adapted to a life of what is easier. You know, if I think of you know, when I was going to work in an office, you know, it would be right, what's an easy breakfast? Do you say it would be cereal or toast or something? And and that's what I was brought up on. And I guess we've got much more into this convenience in a way, and away from understanding what truly supports us and tuning into our bodies.

Alex Papworth:

Yeah, there's something um interesting about tuning into our bodies because there's the there's a sort of research and and and uh increased understanding of the nature of our voice and what we need. But um it's just reminding me recently of I think there's like ten there can be tensions, especially in a family situation. And in a while we're gonna talk about breakfast more than I am, but and it was just that can influence decision making. Like what's in the I hate waste, so I'm terrible for just what's available, right? I'm gonna eat that. Why have we got that? I don't want to eat it, but I don't want it to waste be wasted. But in coming back to the tuning into our bodies, I just noticed I really wanted grainy, grainy bread. So if I'm having toast in carbohydrates, fine, but I really wanted grainy bread. And it was um just just actually saying that and making sure that was what was purchased and uh making sure it's sort of acceptable if you like to ever in the house. But that felt really good in the sense of I'm just I just really want grainy, grainy bread, grainy toast. So that was sort of the thing that lit up my and and motivated me to have a conversation about changing away from more white to red, basically. I guess the uh the tendencies then, yeah, it's just what is that right? What what are the what's the what's the accepted wisdom? What can I research? What can I know about that tells me better? And it's not just not to sort of denigrate or ignore or whatever those, but it's sort of, I suppose it's honouring your truth, honouring what feels right for you as a sort of layer above um what you have, what you don't understand intellectually.

Mark Henderson:

I totally agree, Alex, and that that's and Craig, I'm really glad you raised that. Because I think that uh what we when we honour what we feel and and you know what feels right that we eat, I think that's you know, that's so important and it's probably probably what our body needs at that as well. Um I I love how you brought out the fact that you you hate waste, because I just recognize myself in that too. And we have a we have a joke in our in our family that uh you know that I I have to finish off every jar, you know, of whatever it is of peanut butter, for example, that you know others will happily throw something out and say, well, there's a good good doseful of uh peanut butter left there, you know, that's great. So it's the it's the dad thing to do, maybe. But yeah, um I hate I hate to waste.

Lyn Man:

Well, I'm just gonna jump onto that about waste. Because actually, when you're talking there, what came up to me, Mark, was when we're not tuning into cycles, our cycles, are we wasting energy because we're we've we're throwing our body out of sync. We're not aware of what's going on in the world around us, as in the natural world. And so actually, we're we're living in a society that is driven by by productivity, and yet we're not working or looking at ourselves in a understanding ourselves and how we need to be in a way that actually is efficient.

Mark Henderson:

Yeah, and I I think of you know, coming back to the seasons that um, you know, every season has its specific characteristics and therefore its charms. And you know, when we're always in such a hurry and expecting eternal summer, we we miss that. We miss the those charms. And and but there's a great opportunity that we're missing there, because when we we slow down and and really observe and become present, we become appreciative of what each season offers us. And even beyond that, into you know what's what we practice in in the Earth the Conductor community is is that you know, being open to the the signs and the signals that that nature is offering, that natural wisdom that is there for us the whole time, that that can guide us, that can empower us, as well as the sort of restorative effects of that. And and I think it's the same, the same with our bodies, you know. We we we just when we slow down and sense into what's going on, which has been the theme of this conversation, there's that honouring and there's so much wisdom there as well that can can guide the sort of simple things like what we should eat, but but also on a much deeper level. So yeah, it's a great reminder to become more self-aware and uh and sense into what's the the body's wisdom.

Alex Papworth:

I find myself thinking a little bit about creativity. And there's uh we know we in society we have different stories and some are more helpful pointing us towards rest, for example, so around creativity and the need for creativity is something that you know sort of happens when you allow it, as opposed to something that you set down to do, you know, and uh pursue some objective and you know, on this sort of productivity mindset. So we we sort of know that, and it's not unusual to see that discussed in plenty of, you know, my experience in business environments, and yet I don't know, and and yet we fall back to the productivity myth about uh making things happen. But thank you is why I love talking about nature because you can get away from those different stories, you can even just bring examples up of how that actually happened and in reality of which we are part. So it's just honouring that. So I think it, you know, and it you can sort of well, in my experience, it helps transcend those different stories, and that uh I guess we fall into which story is more compelling, which story do we believe, which story do we want, uh, which story have we identified with? And just saying, well, what's what is nature telling us? Let's look around us and see see those stories. I mean, just one one that came to the one just to remind it of the simple one, the simplest for me is just looking at looking at tree outside, you know, looking at tree outside the window and noticing how they, you know, you might see uh, I don't know, an oak example that is a peony, very small specimen, you know, maybe it's found a place in a in a crack in the pavement, for example. We don't sit there saying it needs to grow bigger and it must be more productive, and it's not very successful as an oak, and it doesn't um judge itself despite there being a magnificent oak in a in a park in a in a more um prime location in terms of access to resources and ecosystem, etc. So that sort of shatters that well, it's really religiousness, really, where we get stuck in those stories about what we should be, what we need to be, what um how we could be better if we need, you know, tried harder and Yeah. I'm trying to bring you back to cycles now and maybe someone can help me.

Lyn Man:

I think it's that adapting, isn't it? So coming back to what you were saying, it's like the the yoke in that instance is is working working with what it's got, the environment it's in, and drawing on its needs, it still has its own cycle, so it's tuned into okay, what it needs to do, so it will still lose its leaves at s at some point in time and you know change the colours, slow down for the for the winter. But as you say, it's being more conscious of that. And for us, and going back to to creativity and and just find it our own awareness, it really comes back to to curiosity and openness and not coming from that that place of expertise. And I I heard he actually I think he was an astronomer yesterday say, and I'm gonna paraphrase, but it was basically like science is about like curiosity and seeing what emerges and what it's telling you. Expertise is coming from a place of arrogance, as I know it. And I think that's part of the thing is that we've been very stuck in an expert culture of people telling us this is what you have to do. And so, therefore, coming back to ourselves and being curious, and as you say, Alex, going into nature and like, okay, what's it telling me right now? Right, we're in we're in autumn here. I went down for a walk down by a local lake yesterday, and it was really interesting in that the there were trees that have lost their leaves fully. There were others that were already were in November, or they were the beech trees were very mixed colours of yellows, oranges, and brines. And then the oaks were still pretty much full leaf and green. And so, you know, my observation was oh, I'm not getting the the mix of autumn colours that I've seen in the past with all the the leaves turning at similar times. But they're all tuning into where they're at in their cycle and what they need, and it's my interpretation that things maybe should be all happening in a certain way. And for me, coming back to that, it it's almost observing an awareness, and it's like, okay, so what's this mirroring back to me right now? What do I need to know? What are your thoughts? What's like what's nature on your recent walks? Or even, you know, Alex, I know you go go swimming in water swimming. So what is it when you do that that you find you're learning?

Alex Papworth:

Um, yeah, I mean, in some ways it's it's need and obvious. Like it's now cold. It's colder than it was last week or last month. But it is, I mean, it is obvious, but but I also I think it ties into something I was just thinking about the constant C of C's. You know, there may be variation per tree, per year, per per whatever, but it is a constant and it does happen. And you know, I'm not saying you know that there are such things as ice ages and so forth, but at the moment there's a level of especially tying to the expert. You know, if we're if we're not relying on experts to to tell us what to do, we're relying out we become our own experts, especially in ourselves. It can be, it feels like it can be it's a bit unsettling. And I think that constancy, that certain you know, you know, it's it's like you know, the sun will come up in the morning. But it's uh somehow it's grounding, it's helpful to know that winter will come and then you know, and then summer will come. And and I was actually reflecting on I would probably find it quite difficult to live in a different half of the world where I don't have that, that would probably be quite unsettling. So so in some levels it's just that really grounding element of yep, winter comes around again and diving into the waters. I there's the funny thing actually about that is I've I like it and I dislike it at the same time. So I like it and I'm you know looking forward to it, and then it happens and like, yeah, it's just as cold as it was last year. But that's um I I even within that, that's that's quite uh appealing for me because it's I suppose there's something to be to be doing, to be behaving, to be expecting. During each season, that's something you all stop doing or uh not be drawn to, and and that's that comes with us. Letting go is can be quite difficult, as well as accepting what opportunities are offered. But that's the nature of the seasons. And that's in itself again, is like that's fine, it's everything as it is as it should be. I just need to attune to that or align to that, and um and uh you know um that will help me essentially feel more balanced and less uh like you know settled by whatever events are happening in my life and around

Mark Henderson:

me. Yeah, I'm I'm uh reflecting on that. And if a group we were working with on Friday and we were outdoors on the beach and it was about nine degrees, and we were outside for about two and a half hours, three hours, and at the end we we gathered and we asked everybody to say, you know, one word about what they took with them. And somebody said um Stone Age. And and I thought, oh, that's interesting, you know, and uh and so what what he meant was uh he had a curiosity around how people survived in the Stone Age because you know it was it was now getting into winter and it was cold and you know we'd been out for two and a half hours, but how could people not be in heated spaces, you know, for for throughout the winter? And it just makes me wonder, you know, how how our bodies have changed and you know, we've become a lot softer because of all the convenience and comfort that we've afforded ourselves, which is in many ways is not a bad thing, but it has consequences and it's another process that's happened that separates us from the natural world as we sort of concrete ourselves into our homes, and and that takes us away from these natural cycles. Um so uh yeah. But I was also real so that that evening, Alex, we were di dipped in the sea, and that wonderful that sort of afterglow feeling of freezing cold, and then you come up and you're standing there, and you just feel the the heat kicking in going around your body. It's uh just a wonderful feeling.

Lyn Man:

I think it's interesting. So we've been talking about very specific cycles and things, but when you were talking just before, what kind of came to me was just that reminder of the interconnectedness. So none of this works in isolation. And even when we're looking in at the natural world, you know, going even just going back to the tree, the tree is tuning into its environment and what's going on around it. And I think it's you know, with the cycles you know, even when we look at uh human-made cycles of like economies and things, they're all interconnected, all you know, has how we work, how everything does touch on other things, and we can't look at things in isolation. So I was just wondering, you know, from your perspective, how do we get people to look out beyond you know, tune into themselves, but then actually look out beyond that and tune into the world around the natural world as a whole, but big question, I think then I'm just registering notes. Yeah, nothing like putting you both on the spot.

Alex Papworth:

I'm I'm willing to have a crack about. I mean I suppose in some ways it's just you you can undo what you're doing. Um and that that varies on an individual basis because that is our nature. It's individual. So all you can do is I think it's provide an example. Um so for me, you know, even just this morning having a conversation, and it's taken me some time to sort of people ask questions like, What do you do? All right, where do you always start? So, you know, so I've started refining that and you know, that statement about when it all comes to down to you know, following the laws of nature, and I start by respecting my nature, honouring my nature, which then you know you can lead to respecting others' nature. It's just you know, it's just one way for me of articulating things, and I'm referring to I just I was quite happy some more how how easy it was to refer to nature in this conversation, just to sort of even and even in that it's like, ah, it's but of course it's not you know, trying to make sure it's not about it being separate, it's just seeing nature in ourselves, in our lives, be becoming for me, it's all about becoming aware of that. And then all you and then what you can offer is to share, share that with others, and then you know they'll take that uh and do what it what what what they will with it. I suppose it comes down to being an example, perhaps. Um that's my suggestion.

Mark Henderson:

Yeah, I don't know if I've got much to add to that, Alex. I totally agree. I think uh, you know, we can't we can only offer ourselves as examples the and and live live that authentically for ourselves. Um I had a I had a I was at a an event yesterday and uh we were having lunch and about eight people around a round table, and suddenly the the sort of everybody started listening to the conversation I was having with somebody else, and we were talking about forest bathing, and uh somebody asked, Well, what is forest bathing actually? And somebody said, Oh, uh you go for a walk in the in the forest, and and so I was um sort of elaborating on that and um sharing, and I got so enthusiastic because I was sharing about um something that that I discovered a couple of years ago where the beech and oak leaves get blown up against a stone dike in in the wind, and then you know, various years of leaves accumulate and gather there, so it creates this depth of of leaves. And so I've started leaf bathing, so you just sort of collapse backwards into this pile, this huge sort of deep pile of leaves, and you've there's this sort of comforting dampness, humidity around it that but the softness really holds you. It's just a fantastic feeling. And then, of course, you're you're on your back and you're looking up into the the tops of the trees and all the fractal, fractal patterns there. So I was I was you know describing this and realized how enthusiastic I was. And and everybody was, you know, really, wow, that's really interesting, you know. So it's uh it just became it became really nice, and then and then people, you know, were connecting with me afterwards and wanting to to know more. So uh so yeah, it's I I just that's an example of sort of living, living it and uh sharing our enthusiasm and hopefully inspiring people uh along the way.

Lyn Man:

I love that, and it and it's interesting because I think each of us will will do it in our own way, and that is coming back to our ourselves and who we are and how we communicate, and going back to what was said earlier, it's about actually taking off those masks as to you know, I can't talk about nature because whatever, or people are gonna not relate to that because we we've no idea. And but what your your example Mark of the enthusiasm that that comes through when you share from something that's genuine from your heart, that's it's that inspiration that that really helps people to think, oh, okay, I'll look into this more, or maybe they won't. But yeah.

Mark Henderson:

Yeah, but on an on an energetic level as well, we know that the the the energy from the heart is has is more powerful. So I'm just thinking, this kind of came to me just now that you know that that energy from the heart that came out to to the group that was around the table, they could they could feel. They they maybe weren't aware of what was happening, but we know that that's actually what is happening compared to sort of brain. It doesn't that that energy doesn't reach in the same way, so it doesn't touch people in the same way.

Lyn Man:

Just yeah. Which is almost takes me back to it's that actually not overthinking and trusting.

Mark Henderson:

Hmm. Well, I'm j I'm just sitting here wondering, you know, you you talked about uh earlier how the you know there are cycles within cycles and everything is interrelated and interconnected and sort of this this nesting principle of ecosystems within ecosystems within ecosystems. And I'm just wondering, you know, there must be so many trillions of cycles happening in the natural world and you know, within our bodies as part of that. You know, like the like blood moving around our bodies is uh it's a cycle. There must be so many, and and many of them that we we don't see, think of all that's happening under the in the soil, you know, under the surface. And yeah, it's something yeah, it would be fun to reflect and contemplate on the on naming all the cycles that we can think of.

Lyn Man:

But it's interesting because that again, it's that what's coming, it's the recognition that there is so much that we don't know and we'll never know, and it's being okay with that. So it's an awareness that we aren't isolated, we aren't interconnected with everything, and we can tune into things from that place of awareness, and that's what will help us rather than um coming from that place of I have to do this, or somebody says that that is going to help me, which takes you into a very different place from seeing, okay, so what do I need? How does this feel? So yeah, it's interesting. And even just, you know, when I'm I'm talking, it's like Alex said before about okay, how do we bring this back to cycles? And I th and I think that's the thing, it's like there's so much interconnection.

Alex Papworth:

I think, yeah, I was I mean, I've glad you said that Lynn, because I was thinking much the same myself. And but realizing we are, you know, victims or whatever of that same sort of dissecting mentality. So we've we you know we we we choose to pick on a theme of cycles because that's you know you can't talk about everything in simultaneously, and yet everything is happening simultaneously. So that's so that's fine, yeah, that's that's okay. And and you know, Mark Florence about those, you know, so many different cycles interacting, and how oh my god, how do we how do we sort of dissect those and see see what's happening and look at the different ones, and the reality being we don't. And I think it comes back to that feeling and that that whole idea of trust of self, because that's the navigational device, if you like, for this complexity and these these sort of infinite mess, you know, cycles within cycles. So it's okay, you know, it's what do I need to do next? What feels right for me? It really comes down to something really simple, which is quite reassuring. Which is also influenced by cycles.

Lyn Man:

It was interesting the other day, you know, you were talking, Mark, earlier about you know, we we keep ourselves inside these concrete boxes, houses, offices, whatever. And the other day I went out and it was it was really windy, it was raining, but with not heavy rain, but I needed to be outside. And it was kind of like the sun was just starting to to go, so the light was going. But there's something almost um mental just being out in that standing there, letting the wind and the rain be on your face, and just feeling into that being outside in those conditions. Actually, for me, it was what I needed because it helped to take me down, it helped me to think about something that I was trying to work out, and and just then I did bringing in the movement and walking around. And and I think it's that just it was for me, it was just that reminder that we don't need to to make things complex. It can be incredibly simple when we give ourselves the time and space and we let ourselves come back to that natural being in nature. So is there anything anything else that's coming to mind about about cycles, about trust actually? Because I think what we've just got to is that that is a really, really important because otherwise we can just get ourselves overwhelmed in the trying too hard.

Mark Henderson:

On the complexity, yeah.

Lyn Man:

Yeah.

Mark Henderson:

Yeah, I think it's I I love the the sort of guiding thoughts of you know, how can we each of us find our own way into setting the intention perhaps about how can we live more in harmony with the natural cycles, with our own personal human cycles, but also the in the the the natural world as a whole, becoming more attuned to those cycles. Because all the evidence is that you know that's where we we find health and general feeling of well-being. We know that uh, you know, even more than that is is that when we can trust the this the signs and signals and of the natural world, we we feel supported and guided as well. So yeah, so how how could that look like for for me? And maybe that's a a helpful question to to sort of help navigate us closer to that attunement with with the natural world.

Alex Papworth:

I've just got something to offer which really sort of reminded, but no, there's something I I've started doing recently. I think it ties into that idea of so to me it's like cutting through the bit of discomfort. You think to leap into cold water not on 99% of people, is that a good thing? But I think there's I think there's value in something that actually grabs your attention in that way, in the same way as the wind and the you know, the rain was grabbing your attention, and many people many of us would choose not to be in that situation because the weather's a bit rubbish. There you go, usually say things like that way. But that's something I've done this morning which I thought was very accessible, saying what might be for others, is just literally sticking out the back door in the morning as I'm making the morning tea effort, and um, you know, maybe I'll eat my breakfast or whatever. I'll just kind of stand on the grass. But either way, you know, I'll look at the trees and I'll look at the sky and I'll take a few breaths. But for me, simple things like that are actually quite powerful and it's quite a simple practice, but it there's an element of like it's a bit cold, my feet are a bit wet, whatever, but it's um I think it's hopefully more people will find ways of doing, or rather, you know, maybe will be doing something similar in their own particular way. But I think there's something about just getting a little bit uncomfortable, and I think it's is valuable for cutting through the noise.

Lyn Man:

Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? It's that getting a little bit uncomfortable. And we we often it's it's again it's tuning into that that resistance, isn't it? Because it's so easy at times just to sit in the comfort of where we're at. And yet by stepping into that doing something uncomfortable, feeling uncomfortable, we can actually make our lives more vibrant, we can learn more about ourselves and about others and the

Alex Papworth:

But I've also got a cycles connection, I just realised, which is I was doing that trip doing that during doing that during the summer, so that's you know, that's a constant, that's a sort of an appreciation of the slight so gradual changes which you get from that. And um I'm getting a little close to doing it, or you might say, near a sunrise. So there's that I'm conscious of the value of actually exposing yourself to the morning sun, but not being at the point where I'm allowed to go and leap out about sunrise, but just a few minutes. You know, just a few minutes of getting that morning sun being connected to that daily cycle in some way, some small way. I think it's makes me feel good. So um, yeah, got the connection to cycles.

Lyn Man:

Okay, great. It's been uh an interesting conversation with trying to use the word trying, but it shouldn't really, because we have kind of cycles, it's almost like there's been a pushing it out. It comes back to what's our interpretation of the cycle and and what is yeah, what do what do we need in the conversation rather than letting it go. And I think that's just interesting in itself. It's that need to to fit something in.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Yeah.

Lyn Man:

Right. Well, thank you both so much for sharing your thoughts and and wisdom. And I and I think it is, you know, if I just look at the themes, it's very much the overarching one is trust, awareness, and tuning into yourself. So yeah.

Speaker 1:

Thank you.

Lyn Man:

Thank you for listening to this episode of I Am Enough. We hope you enjoyed it and are inspired to see yourself as enough and create possibilities. If you would like to discover more, please visit earthaconter.org.