Can Fish See Water?
Can fish see the water they swim in? Probably not—it’s their entire world, so they don’t question it. In the same way, we often don’t notice the mental and emotional currents we’re caught in until we step back and gain perspective.
Imagine yourself in the middle of a vast swimming pool, blindfolded, frantically reaching for the edge that you think is close. But it’s not. The more you struggle to grab onto something that isn’t there, the more exhausted and frustrated you become. Now, what if you paused, took a deep breath, and accepted that there’s nothing to hold onto? Instead of fighting the water, you simply let yourself float.
Life works the same way. We waste energy resisting things we can’t control, stressing over uncertainties, and clinging to outcomes that may never come. But peace isn’t found in struggling—it’s found in accepting the present moment as it is. The moment you stop resisting and start embracing what is, you free yourself from unnecessary suffering.
As Viktor Frankl wisely said, “When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” You are not what happened to you; you are how you choose to respond. So take a deep breath, release what you can’t control, and trust that you’ll stay afloat.
Evans Akpo 