Going with the Flow
Last year, I spent many hours by a stream, listening to the sounds, watching the water, noticing the small details - the movements of the stream and the contours of the land. It was a place filled with aliveness and energy.
Facing up, the stream was wide and shallow. The water bubbled with excitement … like a gathering of chattering people. By the stone where I sat, the stream narrowed into a powerful gush of a waterfall. This part in particular held incredible power and energy, as the water was directed into a deep pool. As it gathered itself back together and moved off into the distance, the water relaxed into a gentle meandering happiness, where it flowed off beyond another turn and out of sight.
It was if the stream showed me the 3 perspectives … of past, present and future. All a continuous connected flow.
It occurred to me, that at each point on this journey, the water wasn’t worried about what was coming next. It wasn’t strategizing or planning on how to navigate around a rock, or how to make the next turn. It was simply present, in full trust and embodiment of the flow, and seemed to be really enjoying the ride.
It was as almost as if the stream spoke “Let go to the flow. It is not for YOU to carve the direction of the stream, or steer the flow. Allow the flow to carry you. Release whatever you are carrying or fighting against and let the movement of the water take it. Be present, open and flexible to the adventure. Enjoy the ride!”
Thankful for these words of wisdom, I have taken them into into my everyday practice.
When I notice myself resisting some aspect of my life, I imagine the stream. When I feel I am going against the flow, I pause. When I find myself fixated on strategizing, planning, and pushing to make things happen, I allow a deeper breath, ground into the earth, and discern the nature of the energies at play. I allow them to show me the direction of flow.
I have learned that when feeling stuck, it is more effective to look for and then initiate a little momentum - even if it’s the tiniest movement, than to fix the problem head-on. I’ve seen how this singular and small movement, when in the direction of the natural flow of energies, builds and can create powerful life transformative shifts.
It has become the basis of my personal practice, but also something I share in my energy healing and coaching work. When we are sitting at a point, gazing into the future and calling in a new picture for our lives (whether this relates to wellbeing, health, relationships, finance, career or aligning to purpose), often the very act of envisioning this new future can feel so out of reach it brings with it a sense of overwhelm and disbelief. Maybe even anxiety.
However, it is reassuring to know that while our future vision is alive, our next step arises by redirecting our focus back to the now and attuning to the natural flow of the energies within us and around us. By sensing and then aligning to this flow, we will be carried and supported in forward momentum.
Interested to explore how energy, flow and momentum can support you to bring positive changes into your life? Find out more through coaching work and energy healing (Reiki) sessions.
Jess Lakin, Life Coach & Energy Healer, Nov 2022