Carolyne Rivera: The Flow of the Body and The Mind

The term “flow” is not so unusual a term in everyday life. Most people are familiar with the expressions of “going with the flow” or “flow with the tide,” and they are meant to symbolize life as a flowing stream of events and we are pulled by the current of life toward a destination we have not yet seen. We often find ourselves overwhelmed by the flow of life, as it pulls us and stretches us in ways beyond our control, but the flow of our mind is not necessarily the same as the stream of the motion of life.

Many of us have experienced the feeling of “getting in the flow” of things, where our minds become hyper focused on one thing that we do not realize the world continues to move rapidly around. As an avid reader, I am well experienced in becoming so endorsed in a book by interacting with the characters, becoming invested in their goals, experiencing their victories and defeats, when I suddenly pause and realize reality is still in motion and everything I had just gone through was non-existent to everyone else. Other times, we may feel so far away from the feeling of focus when we are overwhelmed by too many thoughts and we feel left behind as the rest of reality continues to move forward. In either scenario, it is clear that there is a distinction between the happenings in our minds and in the world around us. However, reality requires us to use both our minds and our bodies to make any sort of difference so when they successfully go hand-in-hand, that is when we experience what it is to live.

I have heard it said that the state of the mind controls the body, but the body has its own effects on the mind. When the body is exhausted and overwhelmed, the mind is weary and cannot fully function, so perhaps it can be both. In his book, American Camino, Professor Kip Redick emphasizes hiking and walking in nature for days or even weeks at a time as a way of achieving a deeper awareness and understanding of one’s self. In this journey, one is separated from distractions, the Internet, and general civilization, and they are on their own in the open air. Here, the body is separated from the mess that tends to clutter the mind and by physical separation, our minds are able to flow freely and are able to be fully present in the moment. Physical distance can be gained through other ways than long-distance hiking; for some they can achieve the same peace by driving silently down the highway or getting lost in a good book or just sitting peacefully on a beach.

The opposite side of that coin is in instances that we encounter everyday, not just in the moments we are away from everything. It is not necessarily realistic for everyone to be able to separate from their daily lives in a regular or consistent pattern so in a practical sense, people must learn to achieve peace in the midst of the storm. As life flows, so do we but they are not always bound to be side by side at all times; we may be able to separate our minds from the chaos that is distracting us. One Greek tradition, called hysechia, is interpreted as “interior stillness or peace”. In this state, a person is able to reflect on their mental flow and they purge the memories and guilt of their past and refresh their present minds. Buddhism is a religion that really emphasizes this concept, pursuing “inner peace” and making it the ultimate purpose in life. Christianity also emphasizes achieving peace, but not through one’s own means. Instead, peace comes from surrendering our will to God and entrusting our present circumstances to Him, as stated in Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (KJV).

In the process of becoming both physically and mentally distant from others, we indeed become more aware, and yet we somehow become less conscious of ourselves at the same time. Separated from people and distractions, we no longer have to be so conscious of our actions and our responsibilities toward them and we can become more aware of the world around us. This process is a form of “self emptying” or kenosis. This state is achieved through a period of patient waiting - no goals or intentions or effort to reach a specific place - intentional boredom so to speak. We wait for the flow to find us and take us to where we should go. In Christianity, believers essentially wait to hear the voice of God to tell them where to go or wait for His will to manifest itself in their lives. In an ideal Christian life, followers wholeheartedly submit to the path that is set out for them by God, without allowing the distractions of the outside world to sway them from their destination and they follow the current God has intended. Self emptying allows a person to release their minds and bodies of selfish desires and they are able to focus on the needs of others, allowing every person to have deeper, more effective relationships with each other.

There is a famous quote from the first of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy that states, “Not all who wander are lost.” For years, I have struggled to understand the significance of this phrase and why its seemingly straightforward meaning is so appealing to some people. Now, I feel like I might actually understand now. The process of flow is something that inevitably occurs in every person’s life, whether they are fortunate enough to be able to separate themselves from society for a period of time or if the flow occurs in their own mental landscape. Through our journeys of flow, we are all essentially wandering, but not because we have lost our way. It is a peaceful journey where we can just take a deep breath and forget for a moment the crashing flows of the world in motion around us. So whether we are wandering on a trail in nature and exploring the beauty of the world, or if we are simply taking a moment for ourselves in the middle of our chaotic reality, we can enjoy the feeling of “going with the flow” and set free the mental obstacles holding us down so we can return our everyday lives refreshed and empowered to share that strength with others.