Problem is holding on, but letting go brings freedom, and freedom is the key to happiness. Clinging to anger, anxiety, or possessions stops us from being free. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Consider that a river is flowing through you.

Your whole life experience runs down that river, through you. Everything you do, feel, and think flows through it, driven by the river’s stream.

Your feelings, your thoughts, your identity … Your routines, diagnoses, and decisions are not concrete and stationary. They come to life, are sensed, and then go away. They are always moving, organically being replaced by a never-ending flow of fresh experiences.

You have no control over what goes down the river.

The specific sentiments and thoughts that surface are not yours. Most of the time, you did not pick them, and you did not place them there. They are just a natural part of existence.

It is impossible for your thoughts and emotions to originate from the world beyond the river. The river is the source of everything that flows down it. In human terms, that indicates that your feelings come from within you, since this is a metaphor for how human life functions. Your experience cannot be created or dictated by your relationships, career, body, health, or any other aspect in life. You are where your experience starts and finishes.

The contents of the river are not you, or what you call me. When all is gone, you are what is left. The river’s contents are constantly changing. What never changes is you.

What a fantastic design! Are you able to sense who you are? For the short-lived and secure character of your encounter?

You are conscious of existence itself. Your observations do not stick. This implies that there is nothing to run from, be afraid of, alter, or chase. That is handled for you by the current, which continuously updates your experience at every second.

Why do we feel so stuck sometimes if this is a true metaphor for human life? Why do our problems seem to persist and burden us, and why does our experience seem so repetitive?

Simply put, we do not grasp the design.

You identify with and cling to what goes down the river because no one taught you life operated in this manner. You say things like, “I thought of this.” This feeling bothers me. I ought to be different. It seems unbelievable that I did, said, thought, or felt that.

After all, it is happening inside of you.

Like everyone else, you fail to recognize that your experience is not you. It is not serious. It is life expressing itself through you in a transient form. After that, it flows downstream, creating space for fresh and unique transient manifestations.

In the end, nothing that passes over you can change your core essence or your state of wellbeing. However, you unintentionally obstruct the natural flow when you are unaware of that. Everyone does.

Naturally, you attempt to alter or correct what appears to be stable and personal. You plunge into the river, which is naturally flowing and recycling. Using your bucket, you stand in the flow and collect water that was attempting to move downstream. You show everyone your troubles by carrying that bucket around.

“Look!” you exclaim. “It is in my bucket right here!” You relive yesterday’s events and obsess over your anxieties and concerns about tomorrow. We become anxious about what might happen next when it seems like life or the things that pass through us could harm us. Then we question why change is so difficult.

We come to the conclusion that there must be an issue with me. We are broken. Something is wrong with our design. 

But do not be fooled—you and life’s design are flawless. Your naive misinterpretation of the origin of your experience is the only issue. the naïve misinterpretation of the river’s functioning that almost everyone on the planet shares.

Everything changes when these misconceptions are recognized. People discover the wellbeing that has always been when they get a glimpse of the robust, health-promoting design of existence.

Saying that you “have” a habit, trait, or Problem is no longer relevant. Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all part of your experience, but they do not have to stay with you or make an impression. They are not intimate.

I was frantically treading water in the river while I was enmeshed in bulimia a few years ago, bingeing and purging. “Furiously,” as it appeared to be the only viable option.

Everything appeared significant, intimate, and profound. How life seemed to me and around me, what I ate, and when I ate it.

I was attempting to prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed by my own fears and harmful behaviors. All I knew to do was flail around, trying to make my ideas, feelings, and actions alter.

I was unaware that life as I knew it was constantly being formed inside of me. I was not living my life. I was not experiencing the consequences of my background, my weight, or whatever mental illness I might have had.

I had no idea that I could observe the river from its banks. that the labels and diagnoses I received from my experience did not reflect anything profound or consistent about who I am.

Some of the thoughts and behaviors we experience at a given moment, from specific mental states, are described by labels and diagnoses. They explain what is in any pail of water that has been drawn from the river.

One day I found that life felt lighter as I investigated this river and the true nature of the human experience. I was not going around with buckets anymore.

In the course of life, I naturally grew less entangled. There is no such thing as the past, whether it was five years ago or five seconds ago. It is remarkable how much simpler life becomes when you do not reflect on the past or plan for the future. when you are not attempting to influence or modify what appears.

Everyone has a great deal of hope because of our amazing design. You can rid yourself of anything that weighs you down and see your current state of health and wellbeing.

Problem Free Break Habits

We all need breaks. In fact, regular breaks are essential for maintaining energy, focus, and overall well-being during a busy day. However, what you do during those breaks can make or break their effectiveness. Have you ever found yourself scrolling aimlessly on your phone or zoning out during a break, only to return to work feeling more stressed and less focused? You’re not alone. A good break should refresh and recharge you, not leave you feeling drained. So, how can you create problem-free break habits? Let’s dive in!

**Although many people may recover only by comprehending their design, others may find that this is only a portion of the process and that they would benefit from additional expert assistance. Every recovery path is different. Finding and doing what is best for you is what matters.