“Empty your mind. You put water into a cup; it becomes the cup. You put water into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. You put it into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. Now water can flow, or it can crash! Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee.
In the words of the late great, water is multidimensional and sacred. It is dangerous, while at the same time, it is graceful. When you do a cold plunge, you feel exhilarated. When you’re in warm water, you feel soothed and comfortable. Literally, the element evokes different feelings based on the temperature and form that it is in.
We are one with water because it is both inside our bodies and necessary for the survival of our physical body alongside our mental, emotional, and spiritual forms of being. Being made up of the element and having such a strong reliance on it shows how deeply connected we are to nature’s rhythms. Water meets us where we are, always reflecting our internal state.
In terms of life and success, water is literally essential for the uplifting and upholding of one's state of being and the achievement of whatever they set their mind to because it provides a sense of stability and a baseline to always come back to. Water is also symbolic and metaphorical. It serves as a metaphor for success because it teaches one to focus on being consistent like water—it is always there, never ceasing, and always providing some value to us humans or the other elements of nature itself.
It serves as a silent guide for us, teaching us to never waver and always show up for ourselves in some way, every moment of every day. It reaches us on a basic and fundamental level, appealing to our most basic selves while simultaneously teaching us to live in our most basic and fundamental ways of maneuvering and surviving as humans so we can thrive. This consistency is necessary but oftentimes underestimated for how powerful it can be when applied over a period of time. Just like in life, success requires nourishment, persistence, and flow. Water provides all of these things, and by observing it, we as humans can take away these three principles and apply them to our daily lives.
Spiritually, there are strong lessons that we can take away from the watching of water. It teaches us to flow through challenges, take the shape of what we need, and persist even when faced with obstacles. The element teaches us to be truly adaptable, and that is something that God teaches us. No matter your religion, belief, or denomination, the universe (God) teaches us adaptability and to rise to the occasion no matter how tough it may get. It teaches us to be resilient in the face of daily struggles that may arise, as well as big challenges that lay like roadblocks in the way of the achievement of each person's own definition of achievement and success.
This adaptability and resilience is taught to us humans through the example of all of the messiahs of each religion, as well as the survival of the fittest in nature. To show the similarities that exist no matter what your faith is, you have Jesus Christ from Christianity and Krishna from Hinduism. Jesus adapted his teachings based on the people he encountered—using parables for the general public, deep theological discussions with scholars, and personal healing for the sick. He adjusted his methods to reach both Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. He showed resilience because, despite being rejected by religious leaders, betrayed by his own disciple, and ultimately crucified, Jesus remained steadfast in his mission. He endured extreme suffering and forgave those who persecuted him, symbolizing spiritual resilience in the face of adversity and injustice.
In terms of Hinduism, as a divine incarnation (avatar) and guide in the Mahabharata, Krishna took on many roles—strategist, diplomat, charioteer, and spiritual teacher. He adapted to the needs of the moment, offering wisdom to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita when Arjuna was paralyzed by moral doubt. Krishna faced countless adversaries since birth but never strayed from his purpose to restore dharma (cosmic order). His calm under pressure and ability to guide others through chaos highlighted his inner strength and divine resilience.
From the beginning of time, God has been teaching us through the examples of his prophets that we must remain steadfast, be adaptable, and stay resilient. Water has existed before these prophets and is still here after their physical death. God created water to be a constant reminder, a constant guide like these prophets. Water can literally erode stone not through force, but through persistence. So if water can do it, you can as well. Remember: water is within you no matter what. So hone in on this fact and look to water for guidance and encouragement, as well as for some comfort and nourishment.
Water has the power to nurture life and destroy entire landscapes—floods, storms, tsunamis. This duality mirrors our own power: when channeled intentionally, we create. When misaligned, we can destroy ourselves or others.
Always try to be like water—both powerful and dangerous, while graceful and adaptable.
Water is the way. Always strive for elevation, endlessly. You’ll get there!