In the Shallow
The shallow end of the water in the ocean is where a lot of people hang out. It’s safe, predictable and you can see exactly what’s on the ocean floor. Kids need safety, and they tend to spend the most time in the shallow. But they do feel a sense of desire to go out to the deeper end to experience what it is like to swim and float. We do that too, we hang out where it’s safe but something inside of us longs to go out to deeper water where there is more meaning, fulfillment and a stillness that doesn’t exist where the waves roll up to the shore. In our mental awareness, the shallow end is where we are constantly analyzing and evaluating, caught up in endless thoughts. We are controlled by our thought processes and do not take many risks. And when we do take risks, we are inside our minds the entire time, unable to enjoy the ride.
The Wake
The wake of the water is the most exciting and dangerous at the same time. This is where adventure seekers spend time. They are not content in the shallow end, but interested in conquering the obstacles of large fierce waves. They are looking for more, fulfillment and being in the moment. Whether they make it through the wake or not, depends largely on their mental capacity to overcome the waves. The same is true of us with our evolution. We seek more, we want to go deeper and we want to experience adventure and fulfillment. But we get pushed back, crashed on and face adversity we didn’t know came as part of the equation. Some of us push through to the other side. Most of us don’t. Some people are satisfied living in a constant state of chaos where they are still controlled by the mind, but the thoughts are more exciting and reckless than they were in the shallow end.
The Deep
The Deep is beautiful. It is where so much of the clarity and enlightenment happens in life. The waves are bigger, but they are gentle. They have not broken yet, so you are able to glide effortlessly over these waves, without fear of pain or struggle. You can acknowledge how powerful you feel in having achieved this and come to this place in the water. You feel stronger, more alive and more peaceful and serene. I love the deep. It is my favorite place to be- after experiencing the adventures of the waves. This is where the mind goes to sleep and you are able to be fully present in the moment without the analytics or judgement of your situation. You wonder why you ever enjoyed the shallow, when there is pure bliss in the deep.
Where are you in the water?
I have spent time in every part of the ocean, literally and figuratively. Personally I love the deep where I can ride the waves like a lazy river and feel the motion of the ocean without fighting against it. I love the peace in my mind when I don’t succumb to endless streams of consciousness and I can just BE. It’s amazing and I encourage everyone to get there. But the way there is fraught with perceived danger and adversity. How can we push through that? And what happens when we let our guard down and the water pushes us from the deep back into the shallow?
We have to stay present. We have to remain alert at all times. Bliss and peace does not mean laziness or allowing yourself to be tossed by waves back to the starting point you worked so hard to move from. Many times we allow ourselves to drift back to old habits, patterns and dangerous waters. Why? Why do we allow ourselves to venture back and look back when where we are is wonderful?
As you look back at 2020 and make judgements, evaluations and tell yourself stories that seem to help you make sense of your world- remember that looking back will inevitably TAKE you back. If there are habits and situations you don’t want to repeat- stay out of the shallow water and fight to stay in the deep!
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