Whose Boat Are You Rowing?

November 7, 2010

Dear Friends,

When it comes to living life in the divine flow, it pays to remember that you rarely get anywhere in life completely on your own. Reaching your chosen destinations in life usually requires the assistance and cooperation of others. You need their help to get down the stream, and they need your help.

Do you ever get the feeling, though, that you are spending way too much time rowing someone else’s boat? Does it seem like you are always abandoning your own boat in order to help someone else navigate life’s waters? Like everything else in life, there is a balance that must be reached when it comes to offering help, as well as accepting help.

I remember a gentleman who told me about a day when he was really “in the flow.” He told me how every single step that needed to be taken, was taken for him by an “Earth Angel.” He said he really didn’t have to do anything to accomplish his goals for the day. His every desire was fulfilled effortlessly!

As I delved deeper into this man’s story, however, I discovered that his “angels” were simply friends and family members who were taking on responsibilities that were actually—as far as I could tell—his to take. He simply wasn’t rowing his own boat, so others stepped in and rowed it for him. They were taking up the slack caused by his lack of action.

Friends, there will be plenty of times in life when another person genuinely needs your help. In fact, you may be in his or her life specifically for that very reason. But if you feel burdened by a request for help—if you feel obligated or resentful—that “heavy” sensation may be an indication that your assistance would actually be doing this person a disservice. Sometimes, the best help you can give others is to simply show them how to help themselves, and leave it up to them to take that action . . . or not.

Remember that when you are being divinely guided to help another person, there will generally be a feeling of “rightness” about it—a feeling of peace and ease. Those are the kind of feelings you experience whenever helping another person is your next right step . . . your divinely directed step.

Whether you are being asked for help, or you need someone to help you, take some time to get quiet, go within, and contact your inner wisdom, so you can more accurately discern what is truly yours to do . . . or not do.

May each and every one of us row our boats responsibly—that is, may we take full responsibility for rowing our own boats, while also maintaining the ability to respond to another’s cry for help when it is truly needed.

Steven

© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com