When life seems to be moving at a pace that we can’t keep up with, the anxiety that accompanies this feeling is quick to overtake our lives.

One thing is certain: life is going to continue on whether we are ready for it or not. Think of it like a river carrying us downstream.

When we become overwhelmed, we often become disconnected from our paths, and are faced with two choices. We can panic and struggle against the current, or we can surrender, and allow it to carry us until we find our footing again. 

Now, because we’re on a river that’s flowing downstream, we’re going to make it to the end either way. We’ve established that life is going to continue regardless of our feelings towards it, but I want you to really think about these choices.

If we choose to struggle, our journey is going to become more difficult. Once we reach the end of the river, we are going to be exhausted, and it will have taken us much longer to reach our destination.

If we choose to surrender, and allow the path to unfold without interjection, we are able to be present through the journey, and experience it as it truly is. After all, once we learn to stop struggling, we then learn to float in whatever direction we’re guided, instead. When we arrive at the end, we are often calm, and met with a sense of clarity.

We can approach all of the various cycles in our life in the same way that we approach the river: aware that the results are directly dependent on our perception of the journey.

It takes so much practice to let the river carry you. There will be times when you think you know a better way, but when you try to stray from the course, the increased difficulty serves as a gentle reminder to trust in your path.

Our preconceived route may not always align with the natural path of the river, but our practice has prepared us to continue through, even if the river gets a little rockier than we anticipated.