Finding my way round the cracks
I like to watch river flows. I like to watch how the water goes around the bend. I like to see how it effortlessly navigates around the rocks, whether they’re big or small. Water always seem to know how to flow. It knows that hitting the rocks head on will do it no good, so it finds the path of least resistance and go around it. Let’s face it. In the real world, the shortest distance between 2 points is not a straight line, it’s the distance of the path of least resistance. It is this path of least resistance that allows water to get from one end to the other end effortlessly.
I find that I’m always looking for this path of least resistance. During my days in my day job, my preferred problem solving method is through the path of least resistance. This is the path that less people will fight against. Some call it a compromise. Some label it win-win. I think it’s just the best way.
When coming up with processes or procedures, I also look for the path of least resistance. Let’s take something simple like filing. When a document requires filing, do you know where to file? Do you need to think of where to file? I have a ready home for things I need to file. This is my path of least resistance. It avoids the mental effort to even think of where to file. I just file it.
Looking to do something on a regular basis but never got round doing it? It’s because you haven’t found your path to least resistance yet. Say you want to exercise everyday, but you just can’t seem to do it. There’s always some excuse like no time or too much effort. These all are resistance. You’ll need to find a path round these resistances. I found out that the path of least resistance to practise my Tai Chi is in the morning.
It’s actually relatively easier to find the path of least resistance if I’m the only stakeholder. It gets more difficult as more people are involved. If I add just one more person into the equation, it will become that much more complicated. When I’m doing push hands with another person, when I can’t find this path of least resistance, I will create tension within myself as well, and hence creating my own resistance. If I don’t look for this path of least resistance, I myself become the resistance.
This seems to be key in our actions.
We can ignore this path of least resistance, but when faced with them head on, if you don’t use this path, you will create tension in you too. This is normally forgotten. You will think that it’s the other person who’s wrong. It’s the other person who’s giving this head butt. It’s the other person who erected a brick wall in front of you so that you cannot pass. More often than not, you are also guilty of erecting this brick wall.
So what if the other person builds a fortress around him? Just go around him. Let go of your own resistance.
The cliche that “communication is a two way process” still rings true. You can’t feel resistance from another person if you yourself do not create this resistance within yourself.
Let go of your own resistance. You might find it a lot easier to navigate the journey within yourself. You’ll also find it easier to then use this new path to create a new way of doing things. Actually, there is nothing new in this. The only thing new here, is you experiencing the power of letting go your own resistance. Stop fighting it. Start moving round the cracks.
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