A Lesson from an Unlikely Source
Daniel
Pink is currently one of my favorite authors, and I’ve spent many hours
this past week diving into “A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers will
Rule the Future.” I could easily take the time here to discuss the six
components of right brain functioning that us humans can focus on to
improve performance, satisfaction, and meaning in our lives. However,
I’d much rather tell you about my experience with one of the numerous
activities he outlines in the book.
Just
like a good student, I was ready to do the homework of my new learning.
In this particular assignment, Pink suggests going to a news stand and
selecting 5-10 magazines that you would never read, much less purchase.
One goal of this activity was to discover any sense of harmony, or
connectedness, between that particular field and that of my own.
So,
on Saturday, I trekked to the local Barnes and Noble bookstore. I had
the entire day to myself, with no time constraints. This allowed me the
freedom and ease to take my time with this exercise.
I browsed the men’s section first. Guns and Ammo—that’s definitely new to me. Bass Angler—also
right up there in odd. (Seriously, I killed the only fish I had as a
pet, and can’t even stand the smell of fish. As I write this, I find it
odd that my favorite food is sushi. Ironic). Anyway, Inked, a magazine for the beautifully tattooed, Southwest Art, and Railroad Press were also added to my pile.
Being
the holiday season with lots of holiday shoppers, I tucked myself away
back in the kids section. I’m small enough to fit at the tables, and the
people who pass through this section rarely stay long. It was the
perfect space for my reading exploration.
To
my surprise, each magazine offered lots of points of connection with my
line of work—teaching and writing about ways to reduce stress, increase
energy, and live on purpose.
My favorite connection is what I will share below, and it comes from none other than … (drum roll, please) … Bass Angler!
And, it wasn’t really a writer’s wisdom that inspired me so much as the
mere information about the feeding habits of bass themselves.
To
put the article in context, this particular writer was explaining why
during the week you can often have ease catching fish. Then, come
competition on Saturday, find it incredibly difficult. The source of
this inconsistency—the flow of the current.
That’s
right. The bass feeding habits depend on the amount of current in the
water. When the current is stronger, in cases when more water is flushed
through dams to produce power during the work week, bass have a more
aggressive feeding style. And, they know how to read the current to
allow the food to come to them.
When
the current slows down, however, the fish suspend themselves near the
stream or lake floor. Essentially, they chill out in a neutral mood
until things pick up again.
I
think that we, as humans, can learn a lot from bass in how we exert our
own energy and intention throughout each day. When the flow of life is
high, when you’re in alignment with your goals and it feels like things
magically happen, this is the time to take energy. You get to ride the
wave of energy around you, and allow your actions to happen with minimal
effort.
You’ve
probably been there at least one in life, right? Where ideas kept
flowing, conversations were easy, and you felt like you were floating
through life! Just like the bass, it’s great to embrace this flow and
align your energy to it. In fact, this is where we can experience the
most progress. The beauty is, that we don’t have to work for it. By the
grace and wisdom of the Universe, all things are brought to us in
perfect timing.
The
bass also teach us what to do when the current slows (since it never
really stops). Instead of swimming blindly from one place to another,
trying harder to get food, the fish relax. They find stillness. They
rest at the bottom until things begin to change.
And
we can do this, too. When doors aren’t opening right away, or answers
aren’t appearing, it’s time to chill out. Relax. Take some deep
breathes. Focus on something joyful in your life, and rest. Often the
best thing to do is nothing at all.
And
when we do this, we save our energy to produce when the flow starts
again. When we find stillness, we have insights on how to do things
better in the future, or how to make the most out of a new endeavor.
Instead of forcing the answer, we let it come to us. Really, it involves
a trust that the current will pick up again. Until then, can we have
the faith and courage to take care of ourselves in a more mellow and
restorative fashion?
No
matter the time of year, no matter your physical location, or your
occupation, we can all learn lessons on how to manage our energy via the
feeding habits of bass fish. So, take inventory of where you’re in the
flow this week—allowing the natural energy to carry you onward. And,
understand that if you’re lying low in another area of life, that’s
okay, too. Sometimes the most insightful and satisfying moments in life
come from our ability to honor our lower energy levels.
And, in all cases, we can smile, have fun, and enjoy the power that energy has to move through us—whether that is fast or slow!
Kym Coco
Author, "It Just Makes Sense: 7 Principles of a Joyful and Stress-Free Life"
(530) 966-0279
Info@KymCoco.com
a lesson
a lesson
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