Affirmations

PurposeParentingSinglenessHealing

Embrace the Current

Champion The Distance,

Remember we talked about how “Perspective is Paramount” last time? Let’s try on a new perspective this time: “Don’t fight the current; embrace the current ” is the phrase that’s playing on repeat in my spirit. It’s my reminder that God has me- wherever the current may deposit me; He’s already directed its path. So this is my season to simply embrace the current. 

Photo Credit: Oregon Coast Weekend

Fight the feeling (song by Rod Wave)

This really hit me one day when I was in the gym. Funny enough, I didn’t want to go that day because I was emotionally overwhelmed. But I fought the feeling and pulled up anyway. As I ran on the treadmill, I gave God everything that was inside of me. It was like I was at war, and I was willing to give it all to Him so that I could be at peace again. At some point, I hit what’s called a runner’s high, and I no longer felt the belt of the treadmill under my feet. In fact, I felt very much like I was gliding. In that exact moment when I entered a state of euphoria while running, I distinctly heard: “Don’t fight the current; embrace the current.”

Each time I run on the treadmill now, I intentionally chant that phrase. And just like it did the first time, it engulfs me and carries me through my run. It’s like my war cry now, and it immediately calms me. I now run better, and I’m no longer exasperated when I’m done. I guess it’s my ticket into my runner’s high. And I love that for me. 

Soon, the phrase consumed my daily life outside the gym, and I questioned why God had me focusing on it when I wasn’t running. I knew there was a message somewhere that I was missing, and one day, a distant memory made its way into my consciousness. 

Photo Credit: Out of Chaos

Throwback Memory

I remember being in middle – or late elementary – school. For some reason, my dad and I were talking about quicksand and the best way to survive it. Mind you, we lived in Arkansas at the time, and neither of us have ever even seen quicksand in person, but that’s neither here nor there. So he powered up our computer (that was connected to our cable modem) and pulled up “Ask Jeeves” (preceded Google). What we found was that if you’re ever stuck in quicksand, the best way to get free is to relax. If you fight it, you’ll sink quicker. But if you stay calm, you’ll rise above and be able to survive. 

Tying it altogether

Now I’m sure you’re wondering what the connection is between embracing the current and remaining calm in quicksand. Worry no more, I got your back because I asked the same question. I recently looked up how to survive a current. Do you know what the answer was? 

Embrace the current; don’t fight the current. The tie is that both quicksand and a current have the potential to take you under; however, by simply relaxing – in the face of danger – you significantly increase your chances of survival! Relax, it’s that simple! 

I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself why we’re talking about how to survive quicksand or a current when most of us will never face that type of danger in real life. Again, don’t worry, I got your back. 

Real Life Application

Though I pray we never face actual quicksand or currents, isn’t life a fight that could easily take us under? I can remember times when my anxiety was so high that I thought I needed medication. I remember having panic attacks, sliding down the wall in tears, even migraines to the point where I’d be sick for days on end. If I could go back and talk to that version of me, I would advise but one phrase: “Don’t fight the current; embrace the current”. 

And I recognize how difficult it is to relinquish that control because when it feels like you’re underwater, your instinct is to fight to survive. I get it, but let’s talk about why that might not be the best tactic in all cases.

Champion’s Corner

Let’s talk about four reasons why you should embrace the current.

1. Fighting is a waste of your resources. Close your eyes and imagine yourself caught in a current or stuck in quicksand. The harder you fight against it, the more energy you waste or deplete. As you panic and flail around, you exhaust your body, and surviving becomes less and less likely as your systems begin to overload. Your fighting not only gets you nowhere, but it leaves you in worse shape than if you’d simply embrace it. Now open your eyes and think about that in terms of real life. The more you fight against the trials and tribulations that you’re enduring, the less capacity you have to contribute to the areas that truly matter. When I’m stressed about my job or money, I have less capacity to give kindness to my children. And that’s unfair. For all. 
2. Fighting can blind you. When you fight the current, you enter survival mode which sometimes forces you to miss the opportunity to properly utilize external resources that cross your path. Close your eyes again. Imagine flailing and fighting the current. In doing so, most of us miss the branch that’s rooted to the tree just to the side. The same with the quicksand, we can’t see those small things that could be significantly life altering. Open your eyes. Think about the last time that you fell apart. Did you realize you had a circle of people around with resources to help you? Did you realize that all they needed was for you to reach out, and they’d quickly – and without resistance – come to your rescue? Survival mode often blinds you from seeing reality. 
3. Fighting generally ignores the present and instead focuses on the future or past. Close your eyes again. This time I want you to really imagine yourself being stuck or carried away. Feel the substance trying to carry you to some unknown place. Are you afraid? Why? Now open your eyes. Most of the time, we’re fine in this moment, but the fear sets in when we realize that we’re unsure where the current will take us. There’s no indication of life “on the other side”, but we see the signs of imminent danger with the waterfall just over the cliff or the notion of not being able to breathe once our head sinks too low. The thing is, though, that the future moments are significantly tied to the present moments. Rather than ignoring our present to focus on our future, we should ignore our future to focus on our present and allow the current to carry us. 
4. Sometimes you’ll find your peace in the current. I know this sounds awful, but follow me for a moment. Imagine being in a ferocious current. And you’re fighting even more ferociously than the current is coming at you. Now, imagine letting go. Just, release yourself and imagine instead embracing the current – not afraid of its direction, speed, path, or anything. Now open your eyes. Do you feel relaxed? Embracing the current isn’t suicide; it’s sometimes, freeing – the peace you need to survive. Instinctually, you want to fight, and I get it. But not everything requires the same type of fight. Sometimes, the best way to fight is to simply release and allow the water to take you under – or to venture below the surface of the quicksand. What you’ll often find is not death, but life – in a brand new fashion. And who knows, that brand new life might come equipped with a deeper level of peace. 

Action Item:
What current are you currently fighting? Your new life might just be on the other side of you embracing the current you’re currently in and allowing it to deposit you somewhere new. Will you trust it?

Purpose