You're holding onto the rock.

That's why you're stuck. You're trying to control everything, defend your identity, make sure life goes according to your plan. And all the while, the river is trying to carry you. But you can't swim if you're holding onto the rock. Alan Watts said if you try to hold onto the water, you cannot swim. The swimming is a releasing and letting the water carry you. But you still have to move with the water. That's the dance.

Here's what I mean practically: you have an identity. A story about who you are. Your name, your history, your beliefs, your preferences. And you're defending that identity constantly. Every time something challenges it, you resist. You create friction. You fight to maintain this image of yourself. But why defending who you think you are keeps you stuck is this—you're nailing yourself to the cross. You learn through letting life show you. You don't learn through demanding for life to be a certain way.

When you're able to be present in the moment and feel your own friction or resistance as it arises, there isn't anything to defend because you're free. When you're free, you flow. You let the current guide you. But if you're holding onto the rock, you never let go, and the river can't guide you. Of course, you need to ground yourself. You need to be strong enough mentally, spiritually, to have the faith and confidence to let go. So there's balance. Tie the camel. Keep the vessel strong. But then let go.

I've had to learn this the hard way. There are moments where I realize I'm gripping. Trying to control outcomes. Defending who I think I should be. And every single time, it creates resistance. It makes life harder. But when I let go—when I stop trying to force things to go a certain way—everything flows. I'm guided. I'm carried. And the funny thing is, I end up exactly where I need to be.

The real question is: are you strong enough to let go? Because if you can't let go of the rock, you'll never give yourself a chance to learn how to flow. And flow is where the magic happens. Flow is where life actually starts to work.

If you're ready to let go and learn how to flow, check out justinegliskis.com

Let's go.

Justin