Shaun Cadwalleder
From time to time you may hear Gaz and I use the phrase “don’t push the stream.”
I’m not sure where we originally got this phrase from, it may well have been our friend Barry Westley but, after trying to look it up on the internet, it doesn’t seem to be a very popular saying.
As such, I thought it would be a good idea to explain what we mean by “don’t push the stream.”
Don’t push the stream
Don’t push the stream is a metaphor for life.
The stream is the flow of things that are out of your control.
If you push against the stream you will fail terribly, and it will probably be very painful.
You cannot push against the flow of life, you can only ride with it.
Accept the flow of the stream and do your best with what you have to enjoy the ride.
You cannot force your will on something that nature intends.
Love is a clear example of this. You cannot force someone to love you and you cannot force yourself to love someone.
Another great example is in confrontation. Fighting force with force only leads to excessive reactions and almighty explosions; whereas, if you navigate the confrontational force, you find yourself overcoming adversity in a cool, composed manner.
The same goes for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There will always be someone bigger and stronger than you. Don’t fight them head on, ride their power until they’re defeated.
It is the way of the stream.
Do not fight it.
