“Cling not to the withered flowers of life. Keep only the memory of their beauty in their prime." ~ LB Shannon
Learning
to flow with life is an important aspect to being happy.
Each of us
must learn to let go of anything, any habit, or anyone that no longer
is in alignment with our innermost sense of being. Some things,
situations, or people are purposeful for a time and then the cycle
comes to an end. Just because it ends does not negate the meaning of
what it was in its time, just as a beautiful annual flower will fade, yet the memory of the beauty is what remains. And yet, even in death,
flowers leave seeds for new growth. Such is the rhythm of life.
People come and people go. This moment is here, and then it is gone.
We live in
a dynamic universe where nothing ever stays the same. Life is never
static; it’s continually flowing with ups and downs like the ocean
tides. When we fight the nature of these tides, we cause undue stress
within our minds. Enjoy living in the present as it is, but don’t
get too attached to it, because life will be different soon enough.
By riding on top of the waves instead of being swept up in the middle
of them, we have the ability to steer ourselves along the wave. Learn
to flow with the waves of life by riding the extremes with awareness
and acceptance, or those waves will knock you down for sure.
Besides
the tides of life, there is always an overall current that pushes you
along. Learn to flow with life like water in a river. When rocks
appear, effortlessly flow around the obstacles without even slowing
down. The only dams you will encounter are the ones you build
yourself: attempting to move against the current (trying to move
backwards), getting stuck in a whirlpool (repeating the same mistakes
over and over), or attempting to run off course (moving away from
your authentic self). These movements are unnatural and filled with
resistance. If you feel like your natural flow is off track, ask
yourself if you are causing this resistance by choosing not to flow
with life.
Remember
to flow with the unexpected and enjoy the journey. After all, detours
in life are the seeds of good stories!
Lesson:
Flow
with life’s tides and currents.
Exercise:
Practice
flowing with the unexpected. Embrace life’s detours. Detours aren’t
running off course. They are following the natural path of life,
winding in unforeseen directions but still going with the flow. We
can’t always see every turn coming up, but we can enjoy the journey
as life takes us through a different territory.
If you are
someone who feels the tides of life as they rise high and fall low,
be aware that they never stay high or low. It’s just a matter of
riding the tide with awareness. Don’t let the low tides draw you
down with them.
When you
feel caught up in a low tide of your life, repeat this affirmation:
“Today I release the withered flowers of my past, looking back on
only their beauty and perfection, allowing me to focus on the seeds
of new growth.”
Stay aware
and be patient, and your high tide will soon come.
Laura Barrette Shannon
author of Be Happy Now: Simple Steps for Enjoying Life
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