A simple swim lesson became a powerful metaphor for life. In a world of over-efforting and endless striving, learning to float—physically and emotionally—might be the most important skill of all.
Let Go to Rise: Why Trying Less Might Be the Key to More
Ever felt like you're doing all the “right things” and still feel stuck?
You plan, you push, you keep it together—but deep down, you're exhausted.
If that’s you, you’re not broken.
You’re just holding on too tight.
And the truth is, letting go isn't giving up—it's learning how to float.
We’re taught to grind, hustle, optimize.
But no one really teaches us how to breathe, soften, or trust.
Psychologist Jinnohsuke Kuroya once said:
“If you’re happy now, that happiness continues.”
I like to think of it this way:
If you’re at ease now, that ease continues.
Comfort isn't a finish line. It’s a place you can return to—over and over.
When My Kid Was Sinking, So Was I
A few years ago, my child was learning backstroke.
Every time they leaned into the water, they stiffened. Arms locked. Eyes wide. Panic rising.
They weren’t swimming—they were fighting the water.
The coach knelt and said:
“You’re sinking because you’re trying too hard to float.
Let the water do the work.”
And in that moment, I realized: I do the same thing—with everything.
At work, I overprepare. In relationships, I overthink.
I grip every part of my life like it's about to fall apart.
But maybe I’m not failing—maybe I just need to let go.
I Remembered My First Bike
When I was six, learning to ride a bike felt impossible.
I was terrified of falling, so I overcorrected. I fell anyway.
My mom finally said:
“You won’t balance by gripping. Just keep going. Your body knows.”
And it did.
Trust—not control—is what brought stability.
Just like with biking and swimming, life becomes smoother when we loosen up.
Letting go doesn’t mean you stop trying. It means you stop forcing.
Two Simple Practices That Changed How I Handle Stress
1. Progressive Relaxation—Because Your Body Leads Your Brain
You know that tight feeling in your shoulders after back-to-back Zoom calls?
Or when you’ve been scrolling job listings for hours, jaw clenched?
Here’s what helps:
Clench your fists. Hold. Then release.
Do that with your shoulders, your face, your toes.
It’s called Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and it's used in therapy to treat anxiety and insomnia.
It sounds small, but it trains your body to recognize ease.
And when your body learns how to let go, your brain follows.
I use it before interviews, after stressful emails, even on long subway rides.
2. Micro-Adventures: Building Emotional Resilience Through Uncertainty
If you're someone who needs to know all the outcomes—you're not alone.
Uncertainty triggers anxiety. But facing small unknowns builds your tolerance.
Instead of a five-star itinerary, try this:
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Take a different route home.
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Eat lunch somewhere you’ve never been.
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Go on a weekend trip with just one night booked.
Researchers like Erik Cohen have found that spontaneous travel strengthens emotional resilience—not because it’s relaxing, but because it teaches you how to handle not knowing.
When you learn to float in uncertainty, you realize:
You don’t need full control to feel okay. You just need trust.
Final Thought
Millennials and Gen Z grew up in a world that taught us to strive.
But no one taught us how to soften.
No one said: “Hey, maybe you don’t need to try so hard today.”
So let me say it now—
You don’t have to optimize this moment. You just have to experience it.
Breathe.
Loosen your grip.
You rise not when you force it—but when you stop trying to float.
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