The Flow

“Be water, my friend. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water.

You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.

You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

-Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is someone that I greatly admire because I truly resonate with the dedication that he had to his craft and continuous expansion. To me, “be water” is a reminder that one should be in constant flow. No matter the obstacle or shape of the container it fills, water flows and morphs to fit its environment. It always persists. If there is resistance the water finds a different path. Or, it settles until the next move comes about.

The power of “being water” and going with the flow of life is something that I quietly chose to recognize, learn, implement, and master. But, I would be lying if I failed to mention a moment where I was forced into “being water” because resisting became utterly painful. Years ago, I was adamant about moving to California. I spent months sifting through job applications, going on interviews that never felt right, telling family and friends I was gearing up to leave, and flew out to look for an apartment. I was so close to making my dream a reality. However, in the midst of that moment, I was keeping a secret. As soon as the plane landed at LAX I knew that moving to LA wasn’t in the cards for me.

From the outside looking in, it seemed as though I abandoned a dream. But, in reality, I was trying to break down a door that wasn’t meant for me to walk through. Instead of flowing like a peaceful stream, I felt like a large body of water crashing into a brick wall with no choice except to find an alternative direction. My intuition was waving a bright red “abort mission” flag. I was uncomfortable with the idea of compromising myself for an apartment, a city I didn’t want to be in, and taking a position in entertainment with no chance of upward movement. So, with LA as my backdrop, I decided to embrace the lessons that the city was trying to teach me: to trust my intuition, flow with the present moment, and live authentically.

Upon returning home, honoring those lessons meant that I needed to “stop talking about it and be about it.” I had to get quiet to hear myself and avoid any external opinions that would convince me otherwise. I never let anyone convince me out of listening to my intuition. That was my first radical act in persisting. The next radical step in surrendering to the guidance of my intuition was stepping into the flow of it all. Letting the pieces fall where they may. I grieved my “California dream” and no one knew I wasn’t going until I magically took a wonderful, higher paying position in my immediate area. I didn’t know it then, but that trip to look for an apartment was a major catalyst in my elevation.

Ultimately, California showed me what happens when I am truly aligned and in touch with my soul’s journey. It solidified that I can trust and flow with the direction of my most sacred inner knowing over all else. I have it in me to “be water” and maneuver through any obstacles that come my way to produce an outcome that is right for me. Unlike that turbulent phase in my life, I write this blog from a place of ease. It feels right. I feel in total alignment with the present moment and what is to come. I am flowing.

Ask Yourself:

What does “be water” mean to you?
In what ways have you resisted fated events in your life?
In what ways have you flowed into fated events in your life?
Are you flowing now or resisting?
What is your flow and how do you flow?
Have you noticed the patterns of your life?

Drea'February 20, 2023