What I Learned by ‘Going with the Flow’ 8/13

The following is adapted from Chasing the High.

“Just go with the flow.” We’ve all been given that advice before, right? On the surface, going with the flow sounds easy. You let go of the reigns and surrender to what’s happening. Instead of trying to control everything, you realize the only thing you can control is how you react. Who wouldn’t love to live a more carefree lifestyle?

The only issue is that going with the flow is easier said than done. Personally, with ample helpings of drama, addiction, and emotional stress, I had a tough time rolling with situations. I took a long time before I was able to let go and live in a state of flow.

Here’s what I learned about going with the flow. If you’re like I was, my hope is that sharing my story will demonstrate ways you can gradually add flow to your life.

Clearing Out Limiting Beliefs  

Finding a flow to my life started with a commitment to always follow my intuition. Looking back at significant life events, I thought I was following my intuition; however, looking back on those times, I realized I’d actually been following money.

My mind distorted what my intuition told me, which led to tons of poor choices. I didn’t have a baseline of core, flow-enhancing beliefs that aligned with who I really am.

To make room for those beliefs, the first thing I had to do was clear out my old limiting beliefs and emotional wounds. Doing so lays the groundwork for flow, allowing you to step further into following your intuition, which we all have access to.

Once you create that baseline of flow, it allows you to effortlessly accelerate the speed at which you can take a vision or an idea and make it a reality. Sounds simple, right?

Look at this a bit closer. If you have a fear of heights, for example, that limiting belief will become an action (or inaction) and will prevent you from sightseeing at the top of the largest building in a city, going skydiving, or possibly even flying.

If you’re not a fan of the water, your limiting beliefs will you hold back from pursuing a desire to swim, jet ski, or go scuba diving. It may eliminate that desire altogether. Shying away from relationships because you have a limiting belief surrounding your potential for heartbreak takes you off the path of finding your perfect partner.

Releasing those limiting beliefs, however, can open a whole new world for you.

Making Decisions with My Intuition

In addition to clearing out limiting beliefs, I learned going with the flow means following your heart and intuition when it comes to making decisions. There’s no overthinking or second-guessing because you’re not making decisions with your head. In a state of flow, if a decision is not a “Hell yes,” it should be a “F— no.” There’s no in between.

Trusting your heart and your intuition is difficult for many people. The want everything in their lives to fit in neat, orderly rows. The idea of throwing caution to the wind and trusting that their heart will lead them to the right place scares them to death.

I used to be like that. I wanted to control everything. But a strange thing happened the more I let go and went with the flow: good fortune found me. Here’s an example.

I was scheduled to go to the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. I had booked my flight in advance, but I didn’t have a place to stay. In the past, I always had to have my plans booked well in advance—my flight, car, hotel, passes to the conference, dinner reservations, industry party lists. Whatever could be scheduled was, as I put tremendous pressure and stress on myself to cover every angle.

After finding out all the hotels in Austin were already booked up, I decided not to worry about where I was going to stay and trust that it would work out. I didn’t even think about it until two days before the event. I decided to give my friend Zeke a call. He lives in Austin, and I wanted to see if he had any friends who had an Airbnb I could rent.

I explained the situation to Zeke and asked if he knew anywhere I could stay. There was a long pause. I checked my phone to see if the call had dropped. Finally, Zeke spoke.

“You have some unbelievable timing! I just decided last night that I am taking my entire family to Hawaii, starting tomorrow, for the whole festival. You can stay in my 3,500 square foot place for free. All I ask you to do is to feed our gerbil while I am away.”

I couldn’t believe my good fortune. He continued.

“You can also use my Mercedes truck and I’ll give you a parking pass to use my company’s parking garage on the street where the festival is happening.”

This example resonated with me in a big way. I had tried so hard to find a solution for my dilemma of no place to stay. Hotel rooms were booked, and what was available was not reasonably affordable. When I decided to go with the flow, I manifested a solution.

Being Freed from the Constraints of Money

At the same I was working to live more in a flow state, I was in the middle of a lawsuit that was causing me endless stress and anxiety. Over time, my mindset shifted, and I relaxed. When I thought about my business and the lawsuit, I thought, What if I lost it all? Big deal. If I ended up losing the business, I had enough confidence in my abilities as a salesman to figure it out. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Suddenly, I had clarity: whatever happened, happened, and I could either let it control my emotional state throughout my life or define my own life and my own happiness.

I choose the latter and will every single time I face a similar situation in the future.

If you are a business leader or family breadwinner, I understand it feels like you have a certain image to uphold. People think of and respect you in a different way if you are a successful professional or deemed a success at all. I know because I’ve been there.

People often tell me that because I’ve had a business for eleven years, I am a success story and an inspiration, but I felt the opposite. I had been living a world of negativity and hid it from everyone, creating a shield between my family, my employees, my friends, and myself. I’d never shared emotionally how entrepreneurship, and how being so tethered to money in such a negative way, really felt. One thing I knew for sure was that money was not the answer to any sort of fulfillment I was seeking.

When I cleared out my limiting beliefs, began making decisions with my heart and intuition, and released the hold money had on me, I moved into a completely different state of mind: happiness, or fulfillment, is now defined by living life to the fullest, seeking out meaningful relationships and experiences, having empathy and helping others, scheduling fun well ahead of time, and stepping into the person I know I can be.

For more advice on going with the flow, you can find Chasing the High on Amazon.

MICHAEL G. DASH is an entrepreneur, author, recovering addict, speaker, philanthropist, and thrill seeker. He founded the F.A.T.E. series (From Addict to Entrepreneur) published on Thrive Global & Medium, and rolled out a F.A.T.E. program to help entrepreneurs dealing with addiction, which he looks forward to growing. Information can be found at https://michaelgdash.com/fatemasterclass. He is the co-founder of imactivated.com, a social movement focused on inspiring a culture of positivity, authenticity, passion, empathy, and resilience. Michael is an avid volunteer, fundraiser, and mentor, and is dedicated to bringing positive change to leaders of all kind. You can reach Michael via email at [email protected] regarding partnering or other opportunities or check out his site at michaelgdash.com.