“You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” – Unknown
Reflection has always been my way of making sense of the world. Recently, I noticed a pattern in my life—moments of forward momentum followed by periods of stillness. Cycles of clarity and doubt, energy and inertia. These shifts felt beyond my control, like forces pushing and pulling me in different directions.
Caught between conflicting desires or emotions, I often tried to force a decision or retreat into avoidance. But this time, I stayed with the discomfort, observing instead of reacting. It dawned on me: I was like a sailor on an unpredictable sea, moving through forces I couldn’t fully control but could learn to navigate.
A sailor adrift in the middle of the ocean doesn’t blow against their sails to create motion. Instead, they wait. The calm waters might seem frustrating, but they’re also an opportunity—to rest, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.
In life, there are moments when nothing seems to move. Progress stalls, and the temptation to force change can be overwhelming. But just like the sailor trusts that the winds will return, we too can learn to embrace stillness as a necessary part of the journey.
When the wind blows against the sailor’s course, they don’t fight it head-on. Instead, they tack—angling the sails and zigzagging toward their destination. It takes patience and skill, but they move forward, even against resistance.
Life’s headwinds come in many forms: setbacks, obstacles, or opposing desires. Rather than resisting or giving up, we can adjust our approach, working with the challenges to keep moving forward.
In a storm, the sailor can’t overpower the sea. Instead, they batten down the hatches and ride out the waves, surrendering to the storm’s rhythm. Wrong moves could capsize the boat, but careful surrender ensures survival.
Storms in life demand resilience and humility. When we stop resisting and learn to move with life’s forces, we find our way through even the most turbulent times.
When the sailor is blessed with a tailwind, they make swift and effortless progress. It’s a moment of grace—a reminder that not every part of the journey requires struggle.
Life offers these moments too, when everything seems to align. The key is to recognize them, seize the opportunity, and enjoy the momentum without taking it for granted.
The sailor’s journey is a relationship with the sea. They don’t control the ocean’s currents, but they adjust their sails and trust the forces around them. Life, too, is a partnership—balancing surrender and control, patience and action.
How might you navigate your own waters differently? What would it look like to trust the tides and winds in your life?
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