We've all had those days where nothing goes according to plan.
You wake up late. There is traffic on a road that is usually empty. The store is out of the one ingredient you needed for dinner.
When these things happen, our natural instinct is to tense up. We grip the steering wheel tighter. We get frustrated. We try to force the world to fit into our schedule. We become rigid.
But if you look at nature, rigidity is actually a weakness. If a tree is too stiff during a storm, it snaps.
Around 2,600 years ago, a Greek philosopher named Thales - who is considered the "Grandfather of Philosophy" - looked at the world and realized something profound: To survive and thrive, you have to be like water.
The Original "Flow State"
Thales lived in a busy port city in ancient Greece. While everyone else was arguing about politics or worrying about money, Thales was obsessed with nature.
He famously said that the most basic element of life is Water.
Now, scientifically, we know life is made of more than just water. But philosophically? He was onto something huge.
Think about water for a second.
It is soft, but it can cut through rock over time (the Grand Canyon!).
If you pour it into a cup, it takes the shape of the cup.
If you pour it into a bottle, it takes the shape of the bottle.
It never fights the obstacle in its path; it simply flows around it.
Thales taught us that water is the strongest element on earth because it is the most adaptable.
How to Be More Like Water
So, how does this help you when you’re stuck in traffic or dealing with a difficult situation at work?
It changes your mindset from fighting reality to flowing with it.
When we get stressed, it’s usually because we are trying to be a "Rock." We want the world to move around us. But the world changes constantly. If you stand still like a rock, you get worn down.
Here is how to apply the "Thales Mindset" to your week:
1. Take the Shape of the Container When your plans change (e.g., a cancelled meeting or a rainy vacation), don’t complain that the "container" changed. Just fill the new shape.
Rainy vacation? Okay, now it’s a cozy reading vacation.
Cancelled meeting? Great, now it’s a surprise free hour to catch up.
2. Softness is Strength: We are taught that being "tough" means being hard. But water teaches us that you can be gentle and still be powerful. You don't have to raise your voice to make a point. You can stay calm, cool, and collected—and still get where you are going.
3. Keep Moving: Water that stands still becomes stagnant. Water that moves stays fresh. When you feel stuck in a rut, do something small to get the energy moving. Take a walk, rearrange your desk, or call a friend. Just get the flow going again.
The Gentle Power
The next time life throws a rock in your path, don’t try to smash through it. Take a deep breath. Remember Thales.
Be fluid. Be flexible. Flow around the obstacle and keep going.
You might just find that the "detour" is actually a more scenic route than the one you planned.
Join the Fun
Do you have a trick for staying calm when plans change? We want to know your secrets!
Come say hello on our Facebook Page and share how you "go with the flow."