Lessons in Fluidity

Go with the flow. You’ve heard it before. And for certain personality types this is relatively easy… for others it’s one of the biggest daily challenges they face (🙋‍♀️). 

Because every single day we are confronted with something that didn’t go as planned or expected. So how do we learn to just let go and flow with it? Where can we learn this skill?

One way we can learn this is by observing an element so key in looking for life on other planets.

Water 🌊

There are so many inspiring quotes about water out there but the one that has always stood out to me and is so profound in its simplicity is from Bruce Lee when he said, “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot and it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

One of my first thoughts after reading his full quote was that I don’t want to just follow the crowd and lose my identity nor do I wish to just accept everything exactly how it is in the world because then nothing would ever change. And I reminded myself that this is not what I think he was trying to say. 

My understanding of it is more about being adaptable to my environment. To whatever life throws at me. If I can be like water and allow myself to adapt to the situation while still remaining myself and holding onto my values, my life will have less conflict and resistance. 

Water does not change as it is poured into a vase. It’s shape becomes different but it still has the same properties. And there is a lesson in that. 

We look at rocks as being strong. Solid. Unmoveable. Compared to us humans they absolutely are. But have you seen what water can do to rocks? What does that say about the kind of power we have - even over what seems like the most insurmountable obstacle? 

When we learn to adapt, to do things differently, to let go of stubbornness, and anything that is resisting change, we can move mountains. We can forge a path through them. We can rise above them. We can overcome. 

No matter if your mountains are emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, professional, relational, or other - be water, my friend. And you will find a way. 

May you flow freely and softly through your day.

✌️Caroline

~ If you have any thoughts on this I'd love to hear them in the comments 😊 

~ And I would love to see you for my morning classes where we can move and flow like water to wake up the body for the day!

Published: 11/14/2021