Standing on the frozen Torne River last night, while Mrs. Aurora danced across the whole sky as I had never seen her dance before, it crossed my mind that nature is always in constant change, going with the flow. Even when the river is frozen, it’s still moving deep beneath the surface. Though at a slower pace, it is still moving, only adjusting and adapting to the situation.
Obstacles in the way
And when the flow of water is blocked, it adapts and finds other, more suitable ways to continue its movement. It reminds me of what the Feldenkrais therapist told me when I couldn’t do the exercises for the leg because of pain, she simply said, “Then we will find another way”. Simple as that.
Another way
When obstacles and resistance are in the way, the only way is to find a solution, another way of proceeding. Reflect and re-think and feel, and honestly answer and be true to myself; “Is this really what I want and need? Or should I head in another direction? Should I even let go of it?”
When too many blocks block the path I’ve chosen, when it becomes a struggle and a pain, I need to make other choices. With this said, it’s not about giving up because it requires effort, but for me, it’s a distinction, a big difference between struggling and making an effort.
Struggling or making an effort
The distinction between struggling and making an effort is not clear-cut, at least not at first, when you look at your situation from this perspective. Over the years, I’ve learned to better feel and see the difference in the situations I end up in. With that said, I’m honestly still quite often unclear about what is what. Then use some of the tools in my toolbox to get back into my flow state, when I know by heart how to proceed.
Taking a walk
A walk in the woods or by the river is one of my favorite ways to get back into flow, or just to clear my head and relax. The surroundings are an added benefit, but the main thing is to take a walk, no matter the weather. Well, a walk when it’s -30 C is out of the question, at least not for more than 15 minutes.
Adaption
“Survival of the fittest”, meaning the ability to adapt to the situation and conditions, is part of going with the flow. And always for feeling peace within, listening to my heart and gut feeling, and then using my head to execute it.
Being on the frozen Torne river, with Mrs Aurora dancing across the sky filled with shining stars, takes me places within that I never could have foreseen, and it’s the beauty of the unexpected and unpredictable in life. The constant change when being alive.
I hope you enjoyed the text, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Love and hugs,
Cathrin
