The swimmer in the rapids
The art of surrender
Zhuangzi stood by an enormous waterfall with currents so violent that neither fish nor turtle could survive there. Suddenly he saw a man being tossed about in the white foam. Zhuangzi thought the man meant to take his own life and sent his disciples to rescue him – but the man swam calmly ashore a little further down, completely unharmed.
Asked whether he had magical powers, the swimmer replied: 'No, I have no trick. I survive by following the water's way and forgetting my own ego. When a whirlpool pulls me down, I follow it down without fighting. When a current pushes me up, I follow it up. Because I offer the water no resistance, it does not harm me.'
The lesson: Fighting powerful circumstances often means drowning in your own exhaustion. Acceptance is sometimes the most survival-savvy act there is.
Which 'rapids' are you in right now? Are you fighting the current – or following it, waiting for calmer waters?
When the day pulls you in an unexpected direction: try following the current for a while instead of fighting it.