11th September 2024
A riptide is a strong ocean current that flows directly away from the shore.
A swimmer caught in a riptide is pulled out into the open water. The obvious instinct is to fight the current, but it’s entirely wrong. Even the best swimmers are unable to fight against that current. In fact, last year, almost 100 people died in riptides in the U.S. alone.
The recommended course of action when you’re caught in a riptide is to relax and let it take you out into the open water.
Once the current dissipates, you swim parallel to the shore and then in. You conserve energy by not fighting the riptide, and then use your energy to return to shore once outside its grasp.
This is what is called the Riptide Mentality:
At certain times in your life, there are going to be subtle, hidden, external forces conspiring against you—pulling you further away from your desired destination.
In these moments, your instincts will tell you to fight back against those forces. You’ll breathe faster, push harder, and strain against them.
But these instincts may lead you astray,
You may be caught in a riptide—and in a riptide, the best course of action is the opposite of what your instincts tell you.
In these moments, when you feel the currents are too strong to resist, allow yourself the freedom to relax and let it take you.
Once it inevitably dissipates, you will have the energy and fortitude to safely navigate to your destination.
So the next time you feel those intense forces conspiring against you, and your instincts tell you to strain and fight back, consider the Riptide Mentality:
Perhaps the best course of action is to conserve energy now and deploy it more effectively later & stay blessed forever.