Crystallization: A Life Lesson From Chemistry

Organic chemistry. Something I never thought I’d be discussing in therapy!

And yet it seems there is a parallel between what I observed in those bygone days of lab work and what’s going on in our lives right now.

Does the term “dissolution” resonate with anyone?

For many of us, life as we know it periodically dissolves around us. It almost literally moves from a “solid phase” into a “liquid phase.” Colloquially, we might say our situations are “fluid.” But that quippy description doesn’t quite capture the sense of fear, grief, and uncertainty we experience when our solid foundations -- whether financial, occupational, social, relational, or existential -- seemingly vanish overnight.

There is a term, though, for the process of coming out of dissolution, and you probably already know it. It’s crystallization. And this is where it gets cool (in my nerdy opinion.)

Crystallization begins with a process called nucleation, which is the initial appearance of a solid, however tiny, in some region of the solution. 

The second phase, known as “crystal growth,” is an exponential increase in size of that particle, and it’s how we get those big beautiful crystals everyone loves.

When nature finds something it likes, it often sticks with it, and I think something very similar happens with the larger lattices of our lives. But I think too many of us want to skip the nucleation step. We want to go straight to observable growth, and may even look longingly at the (seemingly) complex, rich, and well-organized lives of those around us. Outwardly, this might look like failed attempts at a “life overhaul,” trying to do too much too fast, pressured “efforting,” or “fits and starts,” incomplete cycles of action, and decreased motivation. Inwardly, it feels like failure, helplessness, hopelessness,overwhelm, incompetence, and resignation.

Here’s the kicker. Crystallization CAN occur spontaneously, but often it needs a little help. In the lab, that help can come from an impatient undergrad chem minor who either adds a small amount of solid substance or simply scratches the glass surface of the beaker to create enough fluid shear to stimulate crystal growth. Either way, this process is known as “seeding.”  Seeding is simply helping the dissolved substance find something to “grab onto” so that it can start solidifying and crystallizing.

In the dis-solution of life, seeding can potentially come from that same chem minor who ditched the lab coat and became a highly trained therapist. The beautiful thing is that “seeding” only has to happen in a small region of your life to affect the whole thing.

If you’re feeling unsteady, it’s worth spending some time today identifying ONE area of your life that you can begin to organize around. An exercise routine? A hobby? A local community? The possibilities are endless. It doesn’t happen overnight, but I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly a little solidity can grow into something truly amazing.

Rock on.

Crystal-clearly yours,

Hayden