One of the greatest sources of anxiety is the desire for control. We want the year to go exactly as planned, and when it doesn’t, our “Zen” evaporates. The Zen master Soseki often spoke of the river—the water doesn’t fight the rocks in its path; it simply flows around them.
Embracing the “flow” is an act of Empathy for your own humanity. You cannot control the economy, the weather, or the moods of others. You can, however, control your reaction. Mental stability is not the absence of obstacles; it is the fluidity with which you navigate them.
When you feel stuck, ask yourself: “Am I trying to move the rock, or can I be the water?” This shift in perspective creates an Alliance with reality. It allows you to preserve your energy for the things that truly matter, rather than exhausting yourself in a battle against the inevitable.
