Life is Downstream

I have a picture on my desk that was given to me by a friend. It is a close-up of a stream in Sedona, Arizona and in it is the rush of the water and a few rocks. Obviously when I look at it, I can almost hear the water and see the white of the stream as it flows downstream. When I get upset or uptight about life, I can look at this picture and know that life is meant to be lived as one. In other words we need to let go and be in the flow and in the moment.
We, humans are made to encounter stress, but how we deal with that stress is entirely up to us. I ask you one question; “Are you flowing downstream along with the current, or are you attempting to swim upstream?” Makes a difference on how we deal with our daily stress. The stream naturally flows downstream with the universal law of gravity. Anything that is in the stream will also flow downstream. If you were in a raft or a canoe floating naturally you would want to go downstream. If you tried paddling upstream chances are that you would be working yourself so hard, and get nowhere. Do you have that picture in your mind flailing around paddling and paddling to end up in the same spot?
Guess what happens when you stop paddling? That’s right you and your craft would end up floating downstream. You might bounce along the rocks and either shore, but you would gently flow downstream. That’s the picture we want to paint in your subconscious mind. We want you to float downstream without working and worrying yourself to death while under stress.
No, it’s not easy at first, but definitely it is worthwhile. As humans we can’t get rid of our stress because we work, we are in relationship with each, and we have deadlines. What makes our stress much harder on ourselves is when we decide to take control. We can find out as much information as possible, and guide ourselves to a good decision, but the stress is still there. Think of it this way: “Worry is you in the canoe or raft paddling and paddling upstream, getting nowhere. Stress is the exertion of you doing all of that paddling.”
When under stress…Take breaths, and turn the canoe around and flow downstream. As you are traveling downstream take time to gather all the information needed for that particular worry. Once all is gathered make the decision, and let go. You’ll find yourself floating downstream easily, and with less of a burden.