In “The Second Book of the Tao,” Stephen Mitchell shares an insightful passage on page 94:
You can’t talk about the ocean with a frog who lives in a well:
(the word Tao changed to Unknown for clarity)
he is bounded by the space he inhabits.
You can’t talk about ice with an insect who was born in June:
he is bounded by a single season.
You can’t talk about the (Unknown) with a person who thinks he knows something:
he is bounded by his own beliefs.
The (Unknown) is vast and fathomless.
You can understand only by stepping beyond the limits of yourself.
These words, while deeply metaphorical, resonate with me on a profoundly personal level. I spent a significant part of my life, 25 long years, working in a manufacturing facility. Like the frog in the well, I was surrounded by the walls of a profession that, while rewarding in its own right, limited my vision to the confines of assembly lines and production cycles. In many ways, I was an insect in June, not yet aware of the frosty realms of human emotions and mental struggles that lay beyond my immediate experience.
It was within these walls, bound by these limitations, that the seed of a different journey was planted. I began to explore the realms of mental health and counseling while still threading my way through the manufacturing world. It was a challenging journey, as many journeys are. However, it was within these personal struggles that I witnessed my own strength, my capacity for resilience, and my inherent potential for growth.
The journey into the Unknown was not easy, but it was a journey that shaped me into the counselor I am today. The ocean of human emotions, the vast ice-scape of mental health issues, were not concepts I comprehended in a day. Rather, it was a gradual process, an unfolding journey that I embarked upon with patience and courage.
Like the caterpillar’s metamorphosis, my transformation from a manufacturing worker to a professional counselor was a period of confusion, instability, and intense growth. It was a time that tested my strength and resilience, but ultimately, it was also a time that allowed me to emerge as the person I was meant to be.
So when you feel like a frog in a well, unsure of the vast ocean that is your mental health, or an insect in June, unable to fathom the ice of your emotions, remember that it’s entirely okay. You are embarking on a journey of self-discovery and growth, a journey into your Unknown. You might not have all the answers now, but that is part of the process. Embrace the confusion, the instability, for they are the signals of your transformation.
Extend kindness and patience to yourself as you would to a dear friend. Remember that you are not alone. Assistance is available, and it’s okay to seek it. Let my journey serve as a testament to the strength that resides within us all, waiting to be discovered. It is through our personal struggles that we unveil our true potential and transform into the individuals we are destined to be.
Your journey into the Unknown is a celebration of your growth, a testament to your resilience. Every step beyond the boundaries of your self is a victory. In the face of uncertainty, you have the courage to explore, to learn, and to grow. You are stepping into your ocean, into your Unknown, and I am here to support you in every step of that journey. Let’s celebrate the infinite potential that lies within each of us.
Peace my Friends,
~Travis
