Going With The Flow

Every so often we might be given the advice to ‘just go with the flow.’ 

How useful is this counsel?

As is, the analogy is only partially complete. It must be extended. ‘Going with the flow’ could suggest a ‘she’s right’, laissez faire, casual, or lackadaisical approach to life.

It can even be interpreted as advocating fatalism.

A kayaker will tell you otherwise.

A kayaker knows the principle of going with the flow well. It is far easier to use the flow of a river to your advantage than it is to battle against the current.  However, the kayaker is not inactive in this endeavour. If the kayak is not actively kept in the flow of the current then the kayak can very easily end up sidelong to the flow, often resulting in the kayaker going for a swim (unless they are adept at the Eskimo Roll technique) or the kayak getting smashed into rocks.

Often an inexperienced kayaker, when first encountering rapids, will stop paddling.  They then find that the river has taken control, forced them sideways and suddenly they are upside down. An experienced kayaker, however, when entering a section of rapids, will maintain their paddle stroke, sometimes even upping the tempo. They know that by maintaining the momentum of the kayak they can remain upright and in the flow of the river.

When a kayaker enters a river, they usually have a goal of some sort. It may be getting to a point further down the river. Although a kayaker has this future goal, they must bring themselves to the present moment in the flow of the river and be aware of their paddle technique and body posture. They need to watch out for the tell-tale signs of rocks, look out for eddies and check the actions and manoeuvres of any other kayakers around them. They may have goals, but to get to them they must concentrate on the flow they are in at the present time. There is no sitting back and just drifting, that would have them upside down or smashed against a rock before going too far.

A kayaker uses the flow, they don’t allow it to use them, nor do they try to control the flow.

This extended analogy has application in our own lives. To remain with the flow we must give up one of our most cherished yearnings – the yearning for control. We must learn to use the flow. We must learn techniques to remain upright and not get smashed against the rocks. We must be on the alert for whirlpools, eddies, cataracts, and other potential dangers.

Occasionally we will get caught up in these eddies, whirlpools, or cataracts.  Fighting these, any kayaker will tell you, spells disaster.

Eddies, whirlpools, and cataracts may turn out to be signs that we need to slow down, be more alert, move to another part of the river, or maybe even get off the river and portage around a particularly nasty obstacle.

When we do get ‘in the flow’ we find a sense of freedom, a sense that everything is just right, that we don’t have to expend too much energy.  When we get those feelings then we can be assured that we may be on the right track, that what we are doing is correct, appropriate and effective.