The Rockless River
At first glance, I understand the appeal. Smooth sailing on gentle, yet swiftly flowing, river currents. Straight and glassy, free of obstacles and disturbances.
A gentle river is what I imagine a person seeks when I hear them say “I look forward to the calm on the other side of the hump.”
We work hard to distance ourselves from the rocks in our river of life. Fewer rocks mean less risk of pain, setbacks, or failure.
And yet, the harder we try to avoid the rocks, the more we feel them bearing down on us.
Navigating a river without rocks no longer feels like a river.
A rockless river is not a river.
A rockless river is a stagnation.
A rockless river lulls us into space of stasis where we check out and allow the autopilot to take over.
We lose our drive.
We abandon our desire to improve.
There is a reason for rocks. Though they feel like the real resistance in front of us right now, they are there to offer to us a point of differentiation.
They provide the gifts of challenge and risk.
Sometimes they toss in a conflict that activates and awakens us.
It’s counterintuitive to embrace our rocks.
Even more counterintuitive is to aim our boats in the direction of the rocks.
Instead of searching for the ideal outcome through avoidance, position yourself closer to the obstacles you resist, and look beyond them.
This taps into a powerful current that slingshots you around the obstacles. Trust this. It works.
Consider the most challenging rock in your life today — a problem at work, declining health, a struggling relationship, or even the latest news cycle.
Don’t avoid it. Engage where and when you can and you’ll find that its energy will release you into more calm waters.
The pursuit of a rockless river has its costs. What is it costing you?
With gratitude, — Joe
Connect with Joe:
5 With Joe Performance Coaching
I coach established and experienced professionals, who feel stuck in place, to thrive in transition and bring focus to what matters most without compromising their lives.
My personal experiences winning an Olympic Gold Medal, serving as CEO of a national sports organization, and my current “Simple, Slower, and Less” lifestyle in the Catalan Pyrenees help to form accountable and transformative collaborations that see my clients create their next and most impactful chapter.
