Ebb and Flow

Fluidly vibrant colors bring aliveness into a room – that is how I see life. Be in awe of its presentation, like seizing lightning in a bottle. Move along with its current forces, and accept the emerging drifts as they come. Take everything in stride wrapped in kindness and understanding, and there will be no room for negativity. 

Be easygoing, lenient, and adaptive in your inner sanctum. In the profound words of Bruce Lee, “Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless. Like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” It takes intention and commitment to think this way, but all of that is worthwhile in living a happier and healthy existence.

Through reflection, the means to express our feelings deserve merit, but it should be without coercion, rage, and fault-finding. Doing so brings fresh air into our lives. And when a difficult situation presents itself, face and embrace it to gain an improved result. Likewise, holding a grudge that has no end is arresting to the soul, and I am sure we all have experienced one or more of them in our lifetime – leave bitterness at the door. Take what life gives rather than trying to frame life to perfection as you want it to be. Openly float with the ebb and flow of life.

Letting go of the unpleasantries one has been afflicted with is relatable to water as well. This forgiving emotion can be given not only to yourself but also to any human being or group who brought you harm, regardless of whether they deserve your pardon. It can be forwarded to a situation that perhaps gave you a negative outcome you did not expect. One can apply this to a catastrophic event. What happened to me happened. A moment in time I cannot reverse, a reality I have to face. Choosing to wallow in anger and frustration will not bode well for my mental, emotional, and physical state. Harboring awful emotions can lead one to exhaustion and deterioration, which could result in an abbreviated lifespan, as research has shown. I suffered a horrific crisis but chose to let it go and focus on the positives of knowing and expecting that things “will get better” through relentless hard work and determination in my recovery process. Just go with the flow of things to free unnecessary tension – that is how living should be. As difficult and reluctant as that may seem, doing so restores light into a dark time.

Finally, I often ask myself who is the person I am today and have all the boxes checked so far in living a fulfilling journey. Have I released the unwanted clutter throughout the years? Enjoying a fruitful life can be captured with invaluable tenets worthy of sailing along as it unfolds:

• Be mindful of others’ thoughts and feelings

“Remember the blue sky. It may at times be obscured by clouds, but it is always there.” – Andy Puddicombe

• Express a caring nature towards people, places, and things without trivial thoughts 

“Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help.” – Jane Goodall

• Give yourself the love and belief that anything is possible 

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

• Harness the patience and not discontent to manage life’s ongoing events

“The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.” – Molière 

• Be sympathetic and not self-centered and hardline judgmental

“Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

• Have flexibility and an open mind to what is around you

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein 

• Extend compassion for the less fortunate 

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato

• Instill passion in all matters that bring you comfort

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” – Vincent Van Gogh            

The above qualities have helped play a significant role in my life and serve as a mindset I carry to the best of my ability. In the end, a pleasant person is one who carries an open book and adjusts to whatever comes, be it good or bad. The ebb and flow of life are dynamic, so “be water” and good things will happen.