Life is like a stream - easy, free-flowing and peaceful - if we allow it to be.
Like a stream that starts at one point and ends in another, passing through various sceneries along the way, so too is true for our life.
We are born at point A, we die at point X, and between those two points, we pass by a number of different sceneries where various things may occur.
The stream, comprised of water moving in a particular direction, flows seamlessly without the need for external influence.
There's nothing that has to be done, it simply flows.
It doesn't try to force anything and if a boulder may appear on it's path, it doesn't try to move through it, it simply yields and redirects itself around the boulder.
Energy will always take the path of least resistance and so the water in the stream will always find the easiest way to flow.
The water is not passive by any means.
It generates energy as it moves downstream, but rather than enforcing it's energy on the objects in it's path, it actively participates in moving around them, always flowing in exactly the direction it needs to in order to reach it's final destination.
How silly would it be if instead, the water tried to control the boulders or bends in the path of the stream? It's impossible.
By doing so, the water would cut itself off from the stream and instead of flowing, would start to build up behind the boulder, expending all of it's energy on trying to move it until eventually, so much water builds up, that it starts to trickle over the boulder and resume it's flow in the stream.
However, this flow would be much weaker as most of it's energy is being blocked by the boulder - blocked by the water's need to try and control the boulder or move it in some way.
If the water were to simply surrender and let go of this need to fight or overcome the boulder, it could instead use it to redirect it's flow back into the stream, back onto the path of least resistance.
When the water flows with the stream, it experiences a sense of ease and peace as everything unfolds exactly as it should as the stream carries it to wherever it needs to be.
The key is not to try and control the flow, but rather control your movements within the flow.
As the water moves downstream, it's inevitable that it will encounter various obstacles along the way, such as boulders and potentially sharp bends. But rather than trying to control those obstacles or overcome them with force, it can use it's intuitive sense to anticipate these obstacles and respond accordingly.
It can adjust it's movements ever so slightly to stay connected to the flow of the stream as it continues it's way effortlessly along the path - an ongoing connection of ebbs and flows.
The stream always knows the way and by surrendering, the water can tune in and allow the stream to carry it to where it needs to be.
In doing so, not only does the water enjoy the experience of flowing so freely, it also gains energy and momentum which rather than wasting on fighting boulders, it can use to bring about anything it desires - all the while making it's way to it's final destination.
In the easiest way possible.
Like a stream, life really can be that simple and flow so effortlessly.
Be like water and yield to the simplicity.
Questions to reflect on