“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet he rages against the Lord.” (Solomon Prov 19:3)
“Nature’s way is simple and easy, but men prefer what is intricate & artificial” (Lao Tzu)
Can you see the wisdom of these words? If we are truly honest with ourselves, I bet you’ll admit that more often than not we are the ones responsible for our troubles – whether that be due to lack of discipline, walking down paths we know we shouldn’t go, poor planning, or any number of other reasons.
Consider the following examples from nature and notice the difference:
- Fish swim with the current.
- Palm trees sway with the winds – even during the raging of a hurricane.
- Birds ride the air currents as they fly.
Ask yourself – are you swimming against the current, walking into the wind, or resisting the inevitableness of change? If so, you are making life harder than it has to be. Why not instead find a way to go with the flow and use that natural flow to your advantage? Remember the mantra of a judo master, “If pushed, pull; if pulled, push.” Instead of fighting against forces stronger than yourself, find a way to use them to your advantage.
Perhaps the best example of this comes from author Richard Bach who said, “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”
Become that butterfly!
References: Proverbs, Lao Tzu, Dan Millman’s “Body Mind Mastery”
That Helpful Dad 