Life often feels like riding the waves of a river, where we are constantly adjusting to the currents and the pressure around us. Each moment is a flow, and just like a boat navigating through a winding river, we experience the tension of moving too fast, too slow, or veering off course. The boundaries of our experiences—whether they be emotional, physical, or mental—act like the riverbanks, shaping and containing the flow. Without boundaries, life might feel aimless, like a boat drifting aimlessly in a wide open space, or it might feel like we’re dragged by a current, fighting against friction and resistance.
When we’re flowing down the middle—where fun, happiness, and challenge meet in a balanced rhythm—we’re at our most fluid, where there’s enough resistance to keep us engaged without slowing us down. But on either side, we feel the extremes. If we’re too far to one side, we’re stuck in the friction of excess, like sailing too close to the shore and being slowed by the drag. On the other hand, when we push too hard to the opposite extreme, we’re sliding too quickly, unable to appreciate the experience, like a boat speeding past the shoreline, missing the beauty in the details.
This is where mindfulness comes in. Imagine patience as the sail of your boat. As you approach the boundary of frustration, you feel the wind shift, building tension in the sails. You sense that if you don’t adjust, you’ll be pulled into impatience, skimming along the surface without deeper connection. With awareness, you lower your centerboard and adjust the sails, slowing the boat just enough to steady yourself, finding a gentle balance.
By tuning into these subtle shifts, we can catch the flow at its best. We become aware of where our boundaries lie and adjust before we’re pulled into extremes. Life becomes a dance of adjustments, where we steer with mindfulness, moving back to the center, where the flow is smooth, steady, and full of potential for deeper enjoyment and engagement with each moment.g a house
Spiritual Gravity 