Flow is what time and rivers have in common.
Flow has such a soft and cozy sound, doesn’t it? It’s always there and it’s something you relax into. You can count on the flow.
When you let go and relax, the flow will take you.
So why do we struggle so much with flow, especially when it comes to timing?
The flow cannot be forced.
The following passage from the Talmud is one that has always fascinated me.
Whoever forces time is pushed back by time; whoever yields to time finds time on his part.
I find this passage particularly interesting given the emphasis on efficiency and productivity in our 24/7, always plugged in, always busy world.
So what do you think of that?
On the one hand, I would say that this excerpt clarifies the power dynamic between time and humanity. It does not matter that us do, time flows. Fighting it doesn’t really offer any hope of success.
watching the river
If you think of time as a river, the Talmud metaphor is clearer. A river is a constant and powerful force. You barely notice the current most days, but it’s there, moving all the time.
And trying to push against a river is useless. The flow of the river water simply carries everything with it.
It is the same with time.
time and the river
Living in time, we are always in that flow. There is no denying or escaping that fact.
The clock ticks, the calendar pages turn, time moves constantly. And that flow will carry us if we just relax and let it.
But what if we don’t want to be taken?
Fighting the flow…
Have you ever tried to stand up and keep your balance in a rising river? Your feet slip as the deluge pushes your body back with all the power and weight of the river.
You may be able to hold on only momentarily, but eventually, inevitably, the exertion will wear you down and you’ll be swept away, seemingly even faster than before.
The weather and the river – they’re just not things you can force.
Going with the flow…
In the meantime, imagine yourself floating down a river in a tube on a warm and sunny afternoon in late summer. The water moves slowly and you move with it, enjoying the scenery.
What a different feeling that is. Instead of fighting the river, you use its power and let it carry you effortlessly.
Does this metaphor ring a bell? Try not to fight against time today.
So, try not to fight against time today. Let it take you as you plan your day, prioritize, make time choices, and appreciate every moment.
Let’s explore time together…