The Depth Beneath the Waves
There are thousands of rivers in the world,
each surrendering to the same sea.
The sea does not strain.
It does not pull the rivers toward it.
No—it rests in the lowest of places,
beneath the land,
waiting patiently.
And yet, the sea teems with depth and life.
The ocean is a mirror—
a metaphor for our sense of purpose,
our return to Wholeness…
“The highest goodness is like water.
Water benefits all things and does not compete.
It dwells in lowly places that all disdain—
thus it is close to the Dao.”—Lao Tzu
It’s understandable that we often find ourselves straining, striving, and pushing toward a desired outcome. After all, the human brain has evolved to anticipate threat, to seek more, and to resist uncertainty. These are programs of survival that exist to keep us safe.
In the modern day, however, these programs have often become maladaptive, turning into anxiety and keeping us constricted from the deeper questions of fulfillment, purpose, and creativity.
Imagine the ocean greedily forcing waters from the rivers, to try to keep all of the water to itself.
This is not how the ocean works.
In reality, the nature of the ocean is to rest with patience and depth. In that stillness, life flourishes.
Learning this lesson from the natural world, our brains too can be trained for inner depth, patience, and vitality.
These qualities are already within us and, with continued practice, can be cultivated through the thoughts we think, the way we hold ourselves, and the small decisions and movements we make on a moment to moment basis…
“Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear?”—Lao Tzu
Just like the ocean, it is important that we too embrace resting and settling our inner depths.
Embrace solitude—for this is where solidarity arises.
Observe the movement and quality of thoughts.
Observe small movements that the body makes.
Observe the posture of the spine.
Allow yourself to truly settle.
Through this process, we become increasingly calm and aware of ourselves. We make peace with the past and the various aspects of our lives, coming to know what made us who we are on the deepest of levels.
From this place of stillness, inner depth, and self-knowledge, we can then actively reflect on our everyday interactions to discover the unique qualities and gifts that are unique to us.
Your unique gifts might be:
Gentleness
Sociability
Musicality
Presence
Humor
etc.
We can then bring these unique qualities to the world around us, shifting our focus from seeking safety and security to embodying leadership.
“A leader is best
when people barely know he exists.
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
they will say: we did it ourselves.”—Lao Tzu
Just as the ocean contentedly allows its waters to be redistributed as rain, trusting they will return in time, we too can give freely, knowing that what we offer will nourish others and eventually return to us in some form.
This is true leadership.
Although leadership is often associated with boldness and dominance, it is perhaps more powerfully expressed through a quiet sense of inner contentment and depth. When we are at ease with ourselves, our unique qualities naturally begin to influence those around us through patience, compassion, and gentle guidance.
The ocean doesn’t try to be a mountain.
Its doesn’t stand to prove anything.
It neither grasps nor forces.
The surface of the ocean may shift and stir, but below, it remains steady. That stability is what allows it to teem with life and offer its waters freely.
In the same way, we lead by connecting to our inner depths, resting in our own unique skills and values, and embodying a steady presence that creates space for others to grow.
Through this, we come to know purpose, nourishing the larger ecosystem of Life we all belong to.
May we learn to rest like the ocean—with depth, steadiness, and patience—remembering that this way of being nourishes life in ways we may not always see.
Max Kristopher Komes
www.MaxKomes.com
Max Komes is a master’s-level mental health professional and author in Pensacola, Florida. His philosophy is that each and every individual holds wellsprings of wisdom within them, and with the right tools, can access this wisdom to live purposeful, healthy, and resilient lives.
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