Our strengths come from resistance. Imagine working on your muscles. What will you do every day when you go to the gym? You’ll be working with weights that need you to push a little harder for your muscles to get stronger, won’t you? Similarly, when our flow resists, our flow becomes stronger. When you see a mountain river, its flow is constantly resisted by rocks and boulders. This river seems wild and powerful, because it is overcoming resistance and continues to flow. Once the same river has reached the planes, guess what? It looks serene and beautiful, gracefully making its way out to the ocean.

We are like this river. Every resistance we encounter makes our mental muscles gain strength. Remember Charles Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” theory. It is so true in all aspects of our existence. As we work through the resistances on our journey, we gain strength and wisdom. In the future, when you find yourself in a similar situation, it will no longer be a resistance, but a part of your natural flow. Our conflicts make us stronger. Our enemies are truly a friend in disguise. Although we need our friends all the time to bandage our bruises, on the surface they seem to flatter us and, of course, help us heal. Instead, our enemies continue to challenge us. Every time we feel we have overcome a challenge, we realize that there is a brand new set in front of us, only urging us for time and in return making us aware of our strength.

Over time, we become strong enough to stay with the current. We also become wise and know when to take on a new challenge or go with the flow. As a yoga practitioner who flows his strength gracefully, we have it in us. So when a situation arises, just decide for yourself whether you need to handle it for now or follow your plans and review the situation. In the retail industry, although there may be a plan for the day, you can never predict a day with 100% accuracy. It is like the weather. Therefore, we must be prepared to work through situations while remaining strong and retaining the flow. The rate of flow may slow down due to resistance, but it never stops, making us stronger all the time. Strength and wisdom come only with perseverance.

So for today, decide whether you will work through the conflicts or put them on pause and flow without resistance. Either way, remember to smile and breathe.