The unique inversion which occurs in lower elevations, surrounded by mountains. 

In Utah, there’s a fascinating meteorological phenomenon which occurs in the Salt Lake Valley, due to the high elevation and three surrounding mountain ranges. It’s called inversion, where cooler pockets of air form a layer underneath a warmer layer of air that traps it. The best way to visualize it would be to imagine dry ice in a cauldron or wide bowl. That swirling fog that remains trapped in the bowl creates a visual effect, almost a blanket of mist, which needs a breeze or air movement for it to effectively rise & clear out.

Inversion events can last from one day to a week, with an average of 2 to 4 days. A windy day or storm will dissipate the trapped air for a bit until that next inversion layer forms. In this case, a storm becomes a good thing, pushing out polluted air that can become toxic.

When fully formed, the inversion layer becomes fully opaque, creating a visual barrier. 

And so when thinking about that natural phenomenon, I wondered about the fogs that can form in our minds, clouding thinking due to anxiety & insecurity. After a success, that doubt can clear away, allowing for a renewed clarity of purpose & perspective. Yet when fear of failure or rejection creeps back into our minds, we become increasingly blind to our strengths & successes. That fog can at times feel impenetrable, preventing us from taking risks or opening up to others.

A fitting analogy for me, when reflecting on my worries, how past shame & failure can affect our thinking in the present. And so, this will be part of the larger challenge for me when disrupting myself. Finding the way to clear out that fog of fear that can blind me, & developing the self-awareness to realize when it’s forming. Knowledge is power.