This year has been a year of letting go and centralizing my own peace and happiness along with it. It has been hard and grueling work on the heart, which has led me to think about what "go with the flow" really means. Alongside my "Doing it for me" mantra, now my quiet but mighty mantra is "Just Flow," and it has made me come to terms with the true meaning of what that looks like for me. To truly surrender to life and let the current take me where I need to go, without fighting it. It’s like being a leaf gently floating on the surface of a stream, drifting effortlessly with the flow. The visualization of being the leaf in that situation allows me to feel what that should look like. It’s a lesson in grace, in letting go of control (oof!), and in trusting the journey (yikes!).
When I think of myself as the leaf on the water, I see myself moving at the whim of the stream. Releasing everything and laying there on the surface, with no worries about the pebbles beneath me, nor the rocks ahead, or the branches that gently hang down as they periodically touch the surface whenever a breeze whispers through the air. I just flow, carried by the current, embracing each turn and twist in the river. Some days I glide easily, almost weightless as I make my way down the stream. Other days, the current is stronger, faster, pulling me with a force that feels a bit more urgent, yet still, I flow. The water always allows me to find my path, even if it has to nudge me as I tumble over obstacles to get there.
Life feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it? We try to steer our lives in a certain direction, but we forget that, much like the leaf, we are not in total control. We can navigate the waters with intention, but there are moments when the current pulls us unexpectedly. There are times when we find ourselves lodged against a branch or stuck—or protected—in the shallow waters of a cove, unable to move forward or maybe just in a place of being still and resting before continuing the journey. In those moments, it can feel like we’re not flowing at all. Ahhh, perspective... it has the power to destroy or restore a dream.
The branches might represent the unexpected changes, the things we didn’t plan for, like a job change, a relationship shift, or a loss. The cove can feel like our life is at a standstill, where nothing is happening but everything seems to pass us by as we are lodged into this place. At first, we resist, just like the leaf might try to break free from a tangled branch or find a way to move against the current to get out of the cove. But sometimes, that branch or cove is exactly what we need, giving us a moment to rest, regroup, or reflect before we can continue on our way.
Such as it is in nature, so it is also in life. Sometimes we go through seasons where everything feels unsettled. When the storms come—whether they're internal, like emotional upheaval, or external, like a series of challenges—we can feel like we’ve lost our way. But even in the chaos, the rain is doing something that is essential to Mother Earth. It’s bringing new life, new growth, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. We may not be able to see clearly through the murky waters, but trust that the rain has a purpose.
And just like that, like the leaf in a stream, our lives ebb and flow with the seasons. There are times when the water is low, when the brook is dry, and we feel like we’re in a kind of waiting period. These are the times when we might feel stuck, like there’s no movement, no current carrying us forward. But perhaps that dryness is an invitation to rest, to gather our energy, to prepare for what’s next. And then, when the rains come, or when the season shifts, the stream fills up again, overflowing with possibility and new opportunities.
So, what does it really mean to let go and flow through life? For me, it’s about accepting the unpredictability of the journey. It’s about realizing that even when the water seems to stand still, or when it rushes faster than we can keep up, we’re always where we need to be. It’s about trusting that the obstacles—the rocks, the branches, the dips and turns—are part of the natural rhythm of life. Without them, there wouldn’t be growth, or the beauty of a winding stream, or the joy of finally finding an open stretch of clear water.
I’m learning to be like that leaf, floating down a stream, even when I can’t see where it’s taking me. The key is in letting go—not of my dreams or my sense of direction, but of the need to control every moment. Life has a way of guiding us, if we’re willing to trust the flow. It’s not always easy, and sometimes it’s very scary. But when I think of myself as the leaf drifting on the water, I remember that everything has its season. And sometimes, letting go is the only way to move forward.
I am a lover of nature and water. A lot of my life experiences have been navigated spiritually, utilizing water and nature as an example for me. There’s something beautiful about water and how it is gentle enough to flow, but strong enough to create pathways when needed. There’s a lesson in how water never stops flowing. Whether it’s slow or fast, murky or clear, full or dry, the water is always moving, always evolving. Life is a constant flow—sometimes gentle, sometimes a little harsh—but it never stops. Maybe that’s the real secret to life: to just flow, and to trust the journey.
— Sacred
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