(aka Floating vs. Flailing)

Let’s say you are out for a swim in the ocean and the water is calm. You are living your best life and enjoying the relative calm. You know the ocean can be dangerous, but right now it seems placid. Over the course of your swim, things start to get a little more choppy. The turbulence, if you will, is increasing and you start to feel a little fear. Are you in danger? Then a big wave crashes over you and notice that things are much choppier than they were before. You start to panic and flail around. You don’t know what to do, where to turn, you must get to safety right away, so you struggle. You struggle and flail around until you are exhausted and in more trouble than you were to begin with. Then you remember to calm your mind and float. You relax your body and start to float. You are conserving energy and you are also feeling rather safe. The water is choppy, but you can float. Now you can think more clearly and decide what to do – assess the tide and see which way it is going, look around for others that might be able to help. It is only when you slow down and calm your mind and your body that you can come up with a clear plan for yourself – a way to safety.