Beyond the Ripples: Finding Strength in Nature's Timeless Flow

Even though I often write about, teach classes, and help my clients learn to relax, let go, and drop into peace, that doesn’t mean I’m great at it myself. In fact, they say we teach what we most need to learn. Hand raised!

Lately, my blood pressure has been running high, a clear sign that my body is feeling the collective chaos, along with the “good” stress of reopening my practice here in Front Royal. I haven’t had an in-person practice in town since we all closed in March 2020, and it’s both exciting and full. I didn’t anticipate how popular it would be! 

So yesterday, I went to the river.

The Shenandoah has always been a place that settles me. The moment I see that water, something inside me softens. 

Standing there, I feel time stretch. Along these banks, people have lived and thrived for tens of thousands of years. Countless eagles have fished here, raccoons have washed their food, and generations of humans have sat beside this same current, feeling the same sun and the same breeze on their skin.

When I look at the big boulders rising from the flow, I think about how many floods, droughts, and seasons they’ve seen. How many nights the stars overhead have shone on them. How many storms have come and gone, while she just keeps flowing, steady and constant.

Where does it come from, and where does it go? Will the water that passes me flow into the ocean and become part of a fish or whale, or part of a cloud that will rain down here again in some distant future?

And in that moment, I feel humbled in the best possible way.
I can remember that I am a small part of something vast and enduring. My worries are just tiny ripples in the great cycle of life.

Being in Nature has a way of putting things in perspective. Nature doesn’t rush, even when the world feels urgent. She just keeps ever evolving, water over stone, wind through leaves, life to love.

So, if you’re feeling the weight of it all right now, I invite you to pause and imagine the river.
Let its steady rhythm remind you that there is something deep, ancient, and wise flowing through your life, too, something that has seen it all and still moves forward with grace.

Here’s a 3-minute, tiny but mighty practice to help you remember the flow beyond time:

• Step outdoors or rest inside, taking a few moments for yourself. Take a few conscious breaths and picture a river (or sky) you love. 

• With each inhale, feel the current entering your body—cool, clear, alive. 

• With each exhale, let it carry away what you no longer need to hold. 

• You don’t have to do this alone; the river knows how to flow.

If you’ve also been forgetting your own good advice lately, come sit by the river with me for a few good breaths. 

You might feel something soften inside you, too.

The Wisdom of Water

Water has long been a symbol of life, renewal and transformation. Its gentle flow and ability to adapt to its surroundings offer valuable lessons for navigating life's challenges. 

Water is strong and consistent. It keeps flowing and powers through. It can both provide healing and devastation. Water covers most of the Earth. Water is powerful.

Flowing with Life

Water's fluidity allows it to flow around obstacles, rather than trying to force its way through. This flexibility is a powerful reminder that we, too, can learn to adapt to life's twists and turns. There will always be trials and tough moments —moments of chaos and hardship —but being a steady presence can allow us to continue to flow.

By embracing change and flowing with the current, we can conserve our energy and find more ease in our journey. We cannot give our attention and energy to everything, but the river teaches us that we can find the right flow and balance.

Finding Strength in the Depths

The ocean's depths are a testament to the power of stillness and quiet strength. Beneath the surface, the water is calm and peaceful, yet it holds immense power. Similarly, we can tap into our own inner strength and resilience by embracing our own depths and quiet moments.

Persevering Through Adversity

Isn’t it amazing? Water's persistence is legendary, as it wears down even the hardest rocks over time. Think about those smooth, beautiful rocks you find at the beach. They were once a lot less smooth. 

This perseverance is a valuable lesson for us, as we face our own challenges and obstacles. By persisting through adversity, we can create positive change and shape our own lives. Parts of our lives that were bumpy and rough can be smoothed down by gentle and consistent support and love.

Applying the Qualities of Water

So how can we apply the qualities of water to our own lives? Here are a few suggestions:

• Practice flexibility: Be open to change and adapt to new situations. See where the flow of the river takes you.

• Cultivate resilience: Draw on your inner strength and perseverance to navigate challenges.

• Flow with the current: Don't try to force things; instead, go with the flow and conserve your energy. Only give your energy to places you know it’ll flow back to you. 

By embracing the wisdom of water, we can find greater peace, flexibility and resilience in our lives.

River Reflections: Journaling and Reflection Exercises

These journaling and reflection exercises are inspired by the river and designed to help you cultivate a sense of peace and perspective in your own life.

Exercise 1: Flowing with Life

• Take a few moments to reflect on a time when you felt stuck or resistant to change.

  • Write about how you can apply the qualities of water to that situation.

  • What would it mean for you to flow with the current in this situation?

Exercise 2: Finding Strength in the Depths

• Imagine yourself standing on the riverbank, feeling the sun on your skin and the breeze in your hair.

• As you breathe in, imagine fresh water flowing into your body, nourishing and rejuvenating you.

• Write about what strengths and resilience you can tap into in your own life.

Exercise 3: Persevering Through Adversity

• Think about a challenge you're currently facing in your life.

  • Write about how you can apply the perseverance of water to that challenge.

  • What small steps can you take today to move forward and create positive change?

Exercise 4: Gratitude Reflection

• Take a moment to reflect on the things you're grateful for in your life, just as the river is grateful for its source and the landscape it flows through.

  • Write about three things you're thankful for today.

  • How can you cultivate a sense of gratitude in your daily life?

Use these exercises to help you tap into the wisdom of the river and cultivate a greater sense of peace, perspective and resilience in your life. The river holds tremendous wisdom and lessons. Allow it to ease your worries and change your perspective.