Force vs. Flow, Pt. 1
Contradictions and Mixed Messages
I wish that I could say that all advice could be implemented equally and that all those cutesy little quotes we see everywhere would land exactly when and how they need to for everyone.
But that’s just not true.
The truth is there is a lot, and I mean a lot, of conflicting and contradictory advice out there. It is absolutely bewildering the amount of stuff we are “supposed to (inherently) know.”
Today I’m attempting to parse through the noise and get to the heart of what matters.
On one hand, there’s the quote, “What’s meant for you will never miss you.”
It implies a flow. An ease. A sort of destiny that will arrange itself into your reality no matter which path you take to get there or how many twists and turns happen along the way.
On the other hand, I also hear “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and nothing easy is ever worthwhile.”
This implies some kind of hardship is to be expected on your life’s journey, especially when you’re trying to become better or have new and expanded abundance in your life.
Buddhists believe that suffering is inherent in life. They believe that to be alive is to recognize that you will sometimes fall ill, injure yourself, experience heartbreak, get fired, and live through plenty of other uncomfortable situations.
Others believe that all suffering stems from dis-ease that shows us where we’ve “gone wrong.” Often, the remedy offered for this is to simply believe we don’t have the problem, visualize a different reality, and then align with that “right” or “higher” path.
So, which is it?
Alignment and attunement…or hard work and sacrifice?
Subtleties or grand gestures? Whispers or shouts?
Let go or try harder?
Suffering, ok? Or suffering, not ok?
It seems that there is an ongoing battle between flow and force, where these two energies are seen as black and white entities that cannot exist in the same plane.
At least in my circles, flow is seen to be the “better” of the two nowadays. Everyone wants comfort and ease. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be” started as a song and became a sweeping mentality I see everywhere, and next week, my post will address why I think that can be very toxic. So stay tuned for that!
Hustle culture is now shamed and shunned, especially by Millennials and Gen Z. Having to force anything is actively and acutely dismissed. Resistance and hesitation are seen as “red flags.”
This also seems somewhat problematic to me.
So, I disagree.
I think it’s all a continuum. I think flow and force exist on a spectrum, where they can both be true at the same time, just in different amounts. I think both “sides” are valid and correct. They are both equally important, and neither is better or more desirable than the other.
We like to say there is feminine and masculine energy. That feminine energy is soft and creative. It’s receptive and open. It’s a “go with the flow” vibe. And that masculine energy is fixed and logical. It’s output-focused and results-driven. It’s a “go-getter” vibe.
We all have both of these energies inside us simultaneously.
The trick is to balance them and to know when to lean more on one than the other.
So, how to do that?
Slow Down
Take the time to really notice how you feel about certain situations, people, jobs, places, etc. Everything in the body is connected to the mind and vice versa, so there is no coincidence if you’re feeling uneasy about somebody or something, and likewise, there is a ton of useful information to glean from the things that bring you peace or joy.
Take notes/journal
Write your observations down, even if they seem insignificant. Document your life thoroughly but as non-judgmentally as possible, like you were an impartial auditor sitting at the back of the class.
Try new things often
Humble yourself. Be brave enough to start something. To be a beginner. To be on the lowest rung at the entry level. To stumble. To fall. To fail.
Get really, really comfortable with being deeply uncomfortable.
Do one thing every day that stretches your comfort zone. Do one thing every week that genuinely scares you.
Talk to new people. Read books about topics you wouldn’t normally think you’d care about or find all that interesting. Watch content from creators who are vastly different than you. Do not get sucked into the echo chamber. Purposefully seek out things, people, and experiences that are unique, different, and will cause you to grow.
Watch what happens next
After you’ve explored different rabbit holes of curiosity, watch for signs and synchronicities. Notice which paths seem like they have resistance and which seem easier. Look out for messages, angel numbers, song lyrics, quotes… anything and everything that makes you stop and go “Wait a minute….”
🗝️This is the key. This is the important part🗝️
✨This is where the magic happens✨
And if you would love to book a personalized 1:1 tarot/oracle reading with me for further clarity coming into the year of the fire horse, DM me for the deets~! I offer 1-mo, 3-mo, 6-mo, and 12-mo packages to fit every budget. I also still have a few spots remaining for a quick 1-question read for a deeply discounted price! I cannot wait to see what’s in store for you!
Hey, there!
My name is Tiffany and I write about the things that make me wonder, as well as the things that I am in wonder of. I help trauma survivors and burnt-out adults find and reconnect with the childlike wonder and whimsy in life.
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