Lance Armstrong: Force vs. Flow

January 19, 2013

 Dear Friends,

While conducting a workshop a number of years ago, I was talking about the qualities of perserverance and determination, and how they relate to the idea of a “divine flow.” Lance Armstrong immediately came to mind.  Lance had just won the Tour de France for the seventh time, and although his successive triumphs were widely applauded, I questioned whether his victories should really be celebrated.

I don’t mean that I had an inkling that Armstrong was using performance-enhancing drugs.  I didn’t.  And, like many people, when allegations about doping were made against Armstrong, I believed his denials.

No, my question about Armstrong’s achievements had to do with his relentless drive, and his seemingly insatiable need to win and win and win again.  I wondered if his victories were more about the human ego, and less about the triumphs of the Inner Spirit.  I wondered if Lance Armstrong was somehow forcing things to go the way he wanted them to go, rather than co-creating with the divine flow.

Well, Thursday night I got my answer.  In his revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong stated this: “I have controlled every outcome in my life."  And then he went on to describe how he would vehemently—even viciously—attack anyone who threatened what he had created.  Wow!  If that’s not a great example of rowing against the flow, I don’t know what is.

What I am getting to, friends, is this: Whenever you are pursuing a goal or dream in life, it is helpful—to a degree—to be determined and to persevere. But there is a fine line between determination and being driven, and between perseverance and being obsessed. I can’t tell you where that line is for you. All I can do is remind you to continually ask yourself this question: “Am I taking the next right step that I am being divinely guided to take, or am I trying to control, manipulate, and force things to go the way I think they should go?”

To live life in the divine flow is to have the patience and the persistence to hold on to your dream, but to allow that dream to unfold in a divinely guided way. Otherwise, your achievement will only be the result of your ego’s activity. And that kind of achievement is only briefly satisfying, and never in the best interests of all.  Or worse, it can lead to a painful downfall with devastating and far-reaching consequences.

For his own sake—and for his own peace of mind—I am happy that Lance Armstrong has finally come clean about his past. For your sake—and for mine—I hope we never forget one of the many valuable lessons that can be learned from this man’s vivid example:  That life is not about achieving our goals and dreams “at all costs.”  It’s about cooperating with the divine flow of life . . . about letting go of our rigid attachments to what we believe is best for us, and allowing the divine flow to guide us to the fulfillment of our heart’s desires in a way that is not only beneficial for us, but for everyone else as well.

Steven

© 2013 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

Consant Surrender and The Divine Flow

October 24, 2010

Dear Friends,

Without going into the details—because, frankly, the story is just too long and complicated—suffice it to say that I have experienced some very unexpected “bends in the stream” lately. They were the kind of unwanted circumstances that would test anyone’s ability to accept what is, and remain positive. At first, I was a bit upset. But with each surprising turn of events, I found myself growing more and more peaceful and relaxed, instead of more and more agitated. I was able to quickly recover my sense of being “in the flow,” and regain that comforting feeling of being divinely directed. No matter how crazy things got, I was able to remain calm, and focus only on discerning my next right step . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that.

The reason why I was able to do that is relatively simple. It is simply easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand, than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we more readily relinquish the idea that we can control what is going on . . . and we tend to surrender.

It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us forward.

The real challenge—which is what I am building up to here—is giving up personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.

That doesn’t mean that you never take any action. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. Or, you may be guided to refrain from taking any action at that particular moment. The goal is just to avoid jumping to conclusions and acting hastily.

Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine guidance in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them “on your own.” That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but believe me, the outcome will be well worth it.

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

The Divine Flow & The Illusion of Control

September 13, 2009

Dear Friends,

On the page of my website that is titled ABOUT THE AUTHOR, there is a sentence that says I am “a recovering control-freak.” Notice the word recovering. It doesn’t say recovered.

Yes, even though I am one of the world’s foremost masters at living life in the divine flow (a great big smile and a wink go here), when something happens that “threatens” me, I am occasionally challenged by the urge to make a decision, or take an action, for the sole purpose of making me feel secure again.

I am not talking here about divinely guided decisions or divinely directed actions. I am talking about choices that fool me into feeling like I am in the “driver’s seat” again—that I am in control of the situation, and thus, in control of my future. But am I ever really in control? Are any of us ever really in control of anything?

The answer is, of course, no. Control is merely an illusion. No matter how well we have organized our lives, and no matter much we think we have all of our “ducks in a row,” life can—and frequently does—surprise us.

Now, that doesn’t mean that you should never make any plans. You may be surprised to know that I am actually a very big planner. But—and this is what’s key—I am willing to alter or let go of my plans quickly, because I recognize that life can change things in the blink of an eye. Planning is not a problem in itself. Remaining rigidly attached to a plan is the problem.

To live life in the divine flow is to accept the uncertainty of life, and find your security in the knowledge that no matter what happens—or why—the divine flow continues to guide you to your highest good from right where you are, wherever you are.

Living life in the divine flow is not about taking a step in order to feel secure again. It is about taking a step that arises out of the security you already feel—the security that comes from knowing that you are always divinely protected because you are always being divinely directed.

Your job is to be patient enough, prayerful enough, introspective enough, and observant enough to discern that divine direction in the midst of changing, surprising, or unwanted circumstances.

Here’s to us all becoming Masters of The Flow . . . rather than Masters of Illusion.

Steven

P.S. For those of you who like to listen to spiritual material on your portable digital players, my Audio Book is now available as a digital download. For more information about that, visit the order page on my website at http://www.rowrowrow.com/order.html.

© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com