In a perfectly balanced ecosystem, everything works together and things run smoothly. One thing helps another which helps another and so on. There is harmony and peace and, even if there are set backs or mistakes, things keep going forward.

However, when something goes completely wrong and messes up the rhythm of the ecosystem, things stop working properly, big mistakes can happen and the intention and attention of the ecosystem is shifted.

Let us think of ourselves as the ecosystem; we are our own ecosystem, designed to operate and produce emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Sometimes our ecosystem thrives and things go well. We feel “put together”, accomplished, happy, ambitious, healthy, and strong. Sometimes our ecosystem struggles. We have a hard time; our sleep is off, there is a grey cloud over our heads and everything might just seem a bit more challenging.

Here is the thing with our ecosystem- sometimes it only takes a small thing to throw it off. This can make us feel weak, regressed and hopeless. We can question why this happened and what went wrong, as if everything is balanced just enough that it can still function but vulnerable to variation.

Life throws unexpected obstacles at us constantly and some of them are completely out of our control **enter in stage right the global pandemic**. The concept of time becomes blurred, and balance becomes challenging. Day in and day out things are just the same, as if we are living in our own Groundhog Day movie, sans Bill Murray.

It is ok to struggle during these times. It is ok to feel like you are not ok. It is normal to feel like your ecosystem is hurting. Defeated is a feeling that has become more common than ever before. Acknowledge the defeat- defeat of the day; defeat of the week; defeat from your work; defeat in your relationship.

Speak out about your struggles. Learn to rely on your family, friends, partners, colleagues a bit more than before. Be support for each other. Give yourself space to feel and breathe and recharge.

Each time we refocus our energies and nurture our ecosystem, we learn a bit more about ourselves. It is like discovering a new source of energy for our ecosystem to grow from. A thriving ecosystem relies on resources and help available; this is the same for you. One thing that is incredibly beautiful about all of us is our ability to adapt, grow, evolve and adjust.

It is ok to reach out and ask for support. You are not expected to keep moving forward alone. Let us reach out more and support each other as we repair and grow ourselves. We all deserve to have the opportunity to strengthen our resilience and empower ourselves to make it through another day.