Energetic Dirty Fish Tank

You might be asking what is an energetic dirty fish tank? Well, it’s an image that I have been seeing quite a bit when working with clients. It sounds gross and yucky, and it should. But it helps to get a visual of what it looks like when we are in a bad energetic environment. When you are surrounded by negativity, drama, stress, and more. These can be people or situations. A toxic environment that is hard to thrive and succeed in. Too many times, when people are healing, they only look at how they can do better. Improve themselves, get stronger, learn more and become more. But what most people fail to see is they might be swimming in a dirty fish tank of energy. That the environment and things around them are toxic and unhealthy. So how can we start putting more awareness on our environment and balance how much responsibility we are putting on ourselves?

Think about seeing a fish trying to survive in a dirty fish tank. They are not at their best, barely making it, doing everything they can just to live. Would you say to that fish that they should just try harder? If they just gave a little more effort or improved themselves, they would be fine? No, you would see that they are struggling. You would have empathy for the fish. You might even be surprised that it lasted this long in that environment. So why then do we tell ourselves to work harder, be more, find solutions when we are in toxic environments? Why do we internalize that there is something wrong with us rather than seeing it is a tough place to live or work in?

It is important to recognize the harm your environment may be doing to you. This could be people or places. If you never acknowledge the harm, or even abuse that a person or environment is doing then how can you ever truly heal? You would only be putting more blame on yourself. You could be the strongest person, you may have healed and looked at all your stuff, but you still struggle and suffer. You are stuck in survival mode and can never thrive if you are in an energetic dirty fish tank.

Imagine all that energy it is taking just to survive. What if suddenly you were transferred into a clean, new and healthy fish tank? What would you do with all that extra energy you once used to survive? How much better would you feel? What more could you create and do in your life? You would be out of the survival mode and into the thriving stage. Part of being healthy is having an honest perspective. Being able to put ownership on bad or toxic behavior from others or situations. Stop internalizing bad behavior from others and assuming you could have tried harder. If only you were a better friend, family member, spouse, employee or person. But that idea of always assuming it is your fault only keeps you stuck in survival mode.

You are not mean when you realize someone has bad behavior. You are not being difficult if you complain about your environment. You are not wrong for recognizing what doesn’t feel right to you. You are being healthy and respecting yourself. Something might start out small, but it can fester and grow into an unhealthy situation. You might say oh they were just kidding, or they didn’t know. Maybe you think I am just being too sensitive. Or I need to get over it. But that just feeds and creates the dirty fish tank.

Think about the environments you live, work and play in. Do you thrive in them? Do they support you? Or are they draining and taking more and more energy from you? If you are in an energetic dirty fish tank maybe it’s time to find a clean tank. Be proud of how well you have done to survive so far. But also know there will never be enough strength to stay in survival mode forever. Nourish yourself by finding healthy situations and people to have in your life. Make the changes needed to support your needs. Get out of that energetic dirty fish tank and see how beautifully your life can change!