What Holding On Too Tightly Taught Me About Flow

You know those "memories" photo montages that pop up on your phone from time to time?

Well, I had one this morning that, when I saw the cover picture, I literally laughed out loud—there I was, at the Arizona Grand Resort, in the lazy river.

Only… I wasn’t relaxing in my inner tube, blissfully drifting along like everyone else.

Nope.

I was clinging to the edge with a white-knuckle death grip, vehemently battling against the current to stay in place.

Not quite the picture-perfect lazy river experience.

To be fair, I did have a good reason to be fighting the good fight. 💪🏼

My two stepkids and I had been floating peacefully together when somehow I got on a fast track.

Or maybe they got on a slow one.

Either way, they were no longer next to me and seemed to be dropping farther and farther back.

Now, they weren’t babies - at the time they were 11 and 13, strong swimmers and seasoned lazy river veterans.

But it was spring break, the place was jam-packed, and I felt better having them in my sight.

So there I was, trying to hold myself against the current, waves splashing in my face, arms aching… in the middle of a lazy river.

That was the exact moment I had my lightbulb moment. 💡

The flow of the lazy river was just like the flow of life.

When I resist, I get battered.

When I surrender, the water carries me exactly where I’m meant to go.

And isn’t that true for so many of us?

We grip the “edges” of life, trying desperately to keep things the same, control the uncontrollable, or force ourselves into situations that just don’t flow naturally.

We convince ourselves that resistance equals safety, when in reality, it just drains our energy.

Resistance shows up in sneaky ways, like:

❌ Trying to control a situation or outcome

❌ Harboring self-imposed limitations in your mind (“I can’t do that,” “I’m not ready yet”)

❌ Muzzling your voice, even when your truth is nudging you forward

❌ Storing emotions in your body until they feel like heavy anchors

❌ Restraining creative impulses because they might not be “good enough”

❌ Snuffing out joy, excitement, or enthusiasm—in yourself or others

When we resist, we exhaust ourselves.

When we flow, we expand.

Our real work isn’t to manufacture the current - it’s already there, quietly pulling us forward.

Our job is to notice where we’re clinging to the walls, and gently release our grip.

Sometimes that means loosening control over outcomes.

Sometimes it means giving yourself permission to try, to speak, to create, to feel.

And sometimes, it simply means taking one deep breath and trusting that the water knows how to carry you.

So today, I invite you to spend just a few minutes connecting inward.

Notice where in your life you’re clinging.

Notice where you’re being asked to soften, to release, to float.

And then let go, and allow yourself to be moved. 💫

Click here and try this guided meditation:

👉 Lean In and Go WITH the Flow