Don't Stare Too Long
#2008
Years ago, a young sailor taught me that to avoid motion sickness when the sea is agitated, I must find something fixed and stable, like the shore or a rock, and stare at it.
It works when you are on a boat.
But also in life.
When I’m going through a storm, I look for something steady to focus on.
It may be a place, a person, a thing, or a practice.
Something or someone stable enough to quiet my inner motions.
I thought that was it.
A simple and effective trick.
But yesterday I realized there’s a caveat.
As long as you’re staring at that fixed point, you’re not going far.
You may even run in circles.
The storm passes, but you’re still there.
Or worse—you’re stuck in your storm because you’re not really moving.
Whatever fixed point you choose to stay steady, make sure to let it go once the waters calm.
Or find another point farther away, in the direction you want to go.
Stability helps us survive the storm.
But we’re not meant to stay in one place forever.