"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I recently got back from a great vacation in sunny Southern California. It was exactly what my "Interior Gardens" needed! A good dose of family, laughter, sunshine, sundresses /sandals and pleasurable eating. The simple things that help us find our way back to joy and ourselves!

Most days I'd go for a long run along the ocean and afterwards head to my favorite spot. A secluded beach with no inhabitants, just steep steps leading to mammoth rocks that jutted out into the ocean. I perched myself right at the tip to get a panoramic and breath taking view. The "Mc Mansions" that etched the cliffs on either side were dreamy. The bright sunny days made the water glisten and the soft blue-green hues of the ocean more visible. Whoa! I love the ocean, it feeds my soul. (Interesting tidbit: the ocean is very grounding and uplifting for most people. The salt water is very yang and contracts the body by pulling our energy down into our core, which makes us feel more grounded and energized.)

On this particular day the waves were crashing all around and like a flick of a switch the tide started to come in. I was mesmerized by the water and watched it flow gracefully, like a gentle stroke of a paint brush. All my thoughts and worries seemed to magically disappear, and I immediately felt centered and at ease. Ah, it's good to back to myself again.

Then, I began to notice how effortlessly the water washed over the protruding rocks and it struck me that it didn't stop flowing just because a rock was in its way. It got me thinking about times in my life when I got stuck with one of those damn rocks (obstacles) in my way! Why can't I be more like the water and gracefully wash over them? Why is it so hard sometimes?

The visual was priceless and yielded the message. Resistance is futile, just go with the flow or else you'll drive yourself crazy! This wasn't something I didn't know already, but the image really solidified the bigger picture. Going to the rock everyday served as a gentle reminder. I also realized that no matter how good of a planner we are or how many good intentions we have, we can't control life or people for that matter. As the saying goes, "sh** happens." When we try to control, we meet resistance, which only creates more of what we don't want: anger, resentment and the feeling of being stuck all of which contribute to ill health.

However, I do realize this is easier said then done. It is something we can all get better at doing with more practice and awareness. And if we get better at managing ourselves rather than controlling the "rocks" (life and people), the happier and healthier we'll become. I know for sure this awareness made my vacation even sweeter.

Maybe there is something to this way of thinking and living....

Amy Coughlin, a Certified Wellness Coach, educates individuals to make better healthy food and lifestyle choices. By creating awareness and balance, she empowers people to make significant, long-term choices which leads to living an energized and passionate life. Ultimately, her life experiences and education, coupled with her expertise in corporate training and recruitment, has inspired her to coach individuals and corporate groups in wellness education programs.