In the FLOW: Mindfulness for Peace & Joy

For most of the summer I felt like I was in flow — a state of joy, peace + reassurance that everything was working out just as it was meant to. I didn’t feel the need to push, pull, resist or to ebb against any situations or circumstances (Ebbing looks like trying something over and over again, despite it not working out, because you don’t want to give up).

That was, until last week. Amidst the stress and busy-ness of life, I slipped into auto-pilot mode and began to feel like I was fighting against the current and forcing things that were simply not meant to be. This summer was extremely busy for me, yet I enjoyed it and felt honoured to do the work I love to do and which brings me joy. While I revelled in my work and my personal life, and did so with grace and gratitude, I still somehow managed to get lost in all that I was doing and to feel like I was simply doing it to get it done.

I was stuck — which is actually even worse than ebbing. While ebbing usually results in getting tired from pushing/pulling and ultimately contributes to being released back into flow, staying stuck is like being a rock in the river that allows the flow to go by, day after day, while being stagnant, watching, being unable to move or do anything about it. Once I noticed that I was indeed stuck, I knew I had to do something about it.  

What did I do? I took a few days off to gather my thoughts and feelings, I accepted what had happened, reflected on this experience and created meaning, so that I could consciously move forward and step back into flow. My goal was to be like water and to not get stuck in feelings, thoughts, sensations and/or events, but rather, to find my way through these challenges.

While meditating today morning, I focused on a simple yet effective mantra that has really been resonating with me for the last few days.

I am fluid.

Smooth and continuous.

Like a lake, like a river, like the deep blue sea.

I am fluid, I keep moving.

I am fluid, never stationary, never stagnant, never stuck.

I flow with fluidity.

In order to stay in flow, we have to remain open towards anything and everything that comes our way + accept changes + step away from anything that doesn’t feel right. Anything that feels forced does not support fluidity. This is why we need to listen to our feelings and intuition more, because they are always with flow. 

I used to try and control life and the people around me, but I eventually came to realize that there is no reason to get upset if something doesn’t work out as planned or if someone doesn’t see things the way I do. I just breathe and watch for what happens next and allow things to fall into place. I can’t count how many times a better situation has emerged. It’s like the universe synchronizes with my flow, and everything just falls perfectly into place.

That said, no matter what happens, by going with the flow, we stay in flow. Flow happens when we trust and have faith that everything always works out for the best.

Once you feel flow, you always want to be in flow. Being in flow is soothing, yet so powerful, not to mention essential for a blissful life. When I remain fluid and am in flow, all sorts of opportunities emerge that truly surpass anything I could ever plan for or wish to come true.

Becoming fluid and finding my flow would have never been possible for me if it wasn’t for my Kindfulness practice, which taught me how to trust and have faith, to accept what it is, to let go of whatever is not serving me, and to be like water— stay graceful but never stay stuck.