And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, Let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. Let it be.
Excerpt from the album, Let It Be – the Beatles
Tom Stine is one of my favorite bloggers. This week he wrote about the changes he was considering in his life.
Funny how you can read a whole post and one portion jumps out at you. This is the quote that grabbed me.
I’m not so sure that change, improvement and growth mean a damn thing! I don’t mean that to sound apathetic; rather, it is a sense that I have that flowing with life is infinitely more important than our feeble attempts at manipulating life.
Much of what happens to us, and to our loved ones, is way beyond our control. My sister Sheila’s favorite expression was, “Your life can change with one phone call. So, if you don’t know what will happen, why worry?”
We wake at 3 AM, worrying about things that may never happen. Our “monkey mind” jumps forward and always decides on the worst possible outcome.
And we read books and articles about changing ourselves. Our paths, jobs, weight and health – the list goes on and on. If you do a search on Amazon about books on “Change,” 824,665 choices come up. Take your pick. I have probably read half of them.
The focus is not on what is but what might happen if we don’t CHANGE – and now.
I’ve been thinking about what “flowing with life” means. Surely, we all have some room for improvement. Do we just decide that we are good enough the way we are?
If we look back to who we were as children – our basic self – most of us have not changed much. What has changed us are the things that we have experienced. The ones we did not expect or even worry about. Different things that occur in the flow of life. Tragedy, losses, relationships, disappointments, health issues and let’s not forget our successes.
Somehow, we have gotten through them all. We are still here.
Perhaps, flowing with life has a lot to do with trust. Trusting that whatever happens, we will have the strength and stamina or find the help to handle it. We don’t worry so much.
In the meantime, we follow our intuition, go after what we want, feed our families and our creative selves, buy our toys – travel, make money, have success and connect with others. We keep refining what we want.
We don’t give up on life. We give up on needless and fruitless manipulation. We learn to let go of what is not working, appreciate what is, and move on in our newly found, always changing present.
We learn that flowing with life may simply mean stopping along the way -
TO LET IT BE.
You can read Tom’s full article here.
Picture by sundaybloodysunday14
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Corinne:
Good article. Maybe wisdom comes with aging. But more often now when confronted with a “situation,” I say to myself – will worrying and agonizing over this problem change anything? Do you have any control of the outcome? The answer is usually NO NO No. So as trite as the expression seems to be GO WITH THE FLOW! Your loving sister, Junie
Corinne, Tom is one of my favorite bloggers as well, and since I can’t leave a comment on his site, I’ll leave one here for both you and Tom.
I’ve noticed that my coaching seems to be changing. I want to yell to some of my clients WAKE UP! . Life is different, you have to be calm, centered, go with the flow, change, don’t fight, see what the next step is in front of you. But many of my clients want to do lists and a goal setting format. I don’t think it works anymore, those old ways of doing things. Although I must admit when my friend Peter gives me a to-do list I feel relived.
We have to follow the flow, and although it sounds la la, it is actually quite profound.
So you go Tom Go!
And Corinne,
Just Let It Be.
Michelle Vandepass last blog post..Life Purpose and LOVE!
I believe it is a lot simpler than you make it sound.
Dear Sister Junie -
When I grow up I want to be just like you. Fortunately, you are available to talk me off the cliff!
Dear Michelle -
You are one of the “good coaches” who deals with reality.
I find nothing too wrong with having goals – we have to keep throwing it on the wall. You never know what will show up.
Perhaps curtailing our grand expectations and slowing down, as you said, is the answer.
Being alert and following the energy right in front of us is the key for me. It has a lot to do with intuition.
Then – LET IT BE – and see what happens.
OK, Chris -
No fair throwing that bomb and leaving us to wonder what you mean by -
“I believe it is a lot simpler than you make it sound.”
Your opinion and input is really important.
HELP????
What did you say to June ? – That she talked YOU in from the ledge — I thought that was your job with me. You do it so well, and so often. Women hold women together don’t we?
“Let It Be” .. I have that album,bought many years ago because I thought repetition would drum it into my head.
It did not work.
I have never let anything be and I need to just make peace with who I am – an extremist. What if we were all moderates?
“Ya gotta dance with the guy what bring ya” as Molly Ivens (rest that intelligent and missed soul) always said.
I came in this way and I am going to probably go out that way too … screw the rules. Except when it pertains to health — otherwise — screw the rules.
And Corinne, you know what I mean. Let it be.
Dear Lily Rose -
Stay as sweet as you are.
People like you are necessary to all of us. The rabble rowsers! Don’t stop. You keep us all honest. There are too many lemmens out there.
Keep us all kicking and screaming.
We all need someone once in a while to talk us off the cliff. I have Juniebug.
You have me. Signed, sealed and delivered. I’m yours.
Ah! If I were to explain I would lose my super ineffable zen-like quality.
I think it’s about getting on with it and not over-intelectualising.
The article above has a bag of unanswered questions followed by a few presumptious statements. It really isn’t good enough.
There, I threw away my super ineffable…
Dear Chris -
Thank you for your very frank answer. I value your opinion.
I agree with you. A 500 word articles on a subject as profound as “flowing with life” is not good enough.
I’d like to make you a sincere offer.
Although I don’t believe you have a blog, I know you are a professional writer.
Write on this subject and send it to me at my email which is miraclecorataol.com.
I would be proud to publish it on my blog with you as a guest author – anonymous or not. Whatever you like.
Take me up on it. There are people who would benefit from your thoughts.
Dear Corinne, I’m not sure I know what “go with the flow” of
life means. At best it suggests a passive attitude and a
fatalistic view. That we have no control over what happens
in life? Some people are naturally worriers, and some people
are more philosophic. Did you ever try to tell a worrier not
to worry? Fruitless! Some things are inevitable.Some things are not. Knowing the difference…is the issue. Louise
Dear Louise -
The “seers” say that the only thing we can control is our reaction – AND ACTION to what it is that has happened in our lives.
When I finish reading another thousand books on change, I will perhaps know something. I’ll report back.
This is an important quote from your comment -
“Some things are inevitable.Some things are not. Knowing the difference…is the issue.”
Certainly this was an eye opening post and also give you a reason to think about it as well. I want to read your post and Tom’s articles at least three times so that I will be able to get full meaning of each word.
Thanks for sharing and please keep sharing as well.
Thanks for the invitation. I will seriously give it consideration. I’m not certain I have an answer for anyone but myself. If I can scrape together a few bon mots that might shed light on how I deal with things I’ll send them over to share, and people can have a few pots at my lame philosophies.
Dear Corinne, Let me ask a question here. Are we all blank slates when we are born? And only become what we are by the
influences of our enviornment? Or do we have distinct characteristics that are unique to us at birth? Otherwise
why would our children, lets say, be so different from one
another….which you can only compare if you have more than
one child, as you and I have had. I’d love to go into a
disscertation on Astrology to prove my point, but that’s
another subject altogether. Louise…a Leo
Dear Chris -
Hope you can find some time to write a post. I am sure there will be a lot of interest.
Looking forward to it!
ATTENTION ALL ASTROLOGY PEOPLE!
We need an answer for Louise.
Anyone game?
Dear Leo Louise,
In answer to your question:
In All of Eternity, There Will Never Be Another You !!!
As an astrologer, I can assure you that we are pegged from the moment we are born with certain attributes,personalities,
emotions, and life lessons based on the influence of the heavens at the time of our birth. Any good astrologer and natal chart can win over the doubters. The syncronicites and uncanny description of who you are from the lens of Astrology is indesputably AMAZING!
Astrologer Gail -
Thanks, Gail -
I tend to agree with this statement -
“I can assure you that we are pegged from the moment we are born with certain attributes,personalities,
emotions, and life lessons.”
I have noticed little babies who have a definite personality.
Dear Gail & Corinne, And so, Gail, that is the reason I quit
reading books on how to change myself, and began reading books
that would help me understand other people…including my own
children…one of whom has a stellium in Leo with only the
moon being in Pisces…can she help herself? She is everything
good and bad about Leo, but she loves her cat! And believes
herself to be perfect! Louise
I am determined not to take up too much room – or your valuable time. I would like to free you from gurus, religions, obscure and arcane practises. I want to tell you, ‘Just go out there and be happy’.
(For the rest of this comment see new post, “Flowing With Life.”
Dear Chris -
WHATTA GUY!
Your guest post will be up in a day of two.
It is wonderful.
THANK YOU!
I’m honoured to be given the space.
CRACK
No one will even remember his name
No real friends to mourn him now
That’s the way it is when you die in shame
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison I your vein
It will only drive you insane !
How many more will die in disgrace ?
Fated to die in shame
Wondering around lost in space
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison in your vein
It will only drive you insane !
Just another victim of smack ! or crack !
Found dead with a needle in his vein
Now he aint ever coming back !
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison in you vein
It will only drive you insane !
He now stands at heavens door
A lesson for all who remain !
Just another victim in this deadly drug war
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison in your vein
It will only drive you insane !
You don’t have to go the same way
Don’t be led by so called friends into drugs shame
More will die day after day !
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison in your vein
It will only drive you insane !
Read then understand my words
Then spread the message you have heard
Drugs aren’t welcome whatever their name
Crack ! Heroin ! Cocaine !
Don’t put that poison in your vein
It will only drive you INSANE .
DAVID BRIAN GOODWIN
Dear David -
I ran a rehab volunteer program for prostitutes in Chicago for five years.
99% of them had multiple addictions.
Every word in your painful poem is true. I saw it first hand.
I hope someone is reading it who needs it.
Please, God.
Corinne,
I don’t know where I heard this quote but here it goes:
“Life is what happens to you when you’re making other plans.”
I’ve found it to be very true, especially in times of challenge. When we feel challenged, we often feel more is happening to us than we are making happen for us. We feel out of control and it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes we are totally overwhelmed.
That’s when we can choose to break or choose to go with the flow, and let it be.
“Let It Be” is one of my favorite Beatles albums. It amazes me that our songwriters seem to be some of our best, most insightful philosophers in the world today.
Sherri
Being the Change I Wish to See – Sherris last blog post..There is a CIA torture manual
great site.. great topics… my question is how does acim help someone who has been told he has a terminal disease? thank you, ron
Dear Ron -
I thought your question was so important, I am writing a whole article about it.
Watch for it over the weekend.
Love and healing thoughts to you.
This is what popped out for me: “Perhaps, flowing with life has a lot to do with trust. Trusting that whatever happens, we will have the strength and stamina or find the help to handle it. We don’t worry so much.”
Trusting in the confidence built through our personal history of how we get up once we’ve been knocked down. And a really well-developed sense of humor!
“I get knocked down! But I get up again!” That’s a line from another song. Sounds like flow to me.
thatgirlisfunny´s last blog ..FML: Being Cynical is a Habit I have to Feed