Integral Options Cafe is one of my favorite blogs. Its author, William, compiles posts and articles from around the internets that are of interest to the Integral community. Today he shared a very nice piece from DailyOm:

The flow of the universe moves through everything. It is in the rocks that form, get pounded into dust, and are blown away. It is in the blossoming of a flower born from a seed planted in the spring. The growth cycle that every human being goes through is part of this natural flow, which is also the current that takes us down life’s paths. When we move with it rather than resisting it, we are riding on the universal wave that allows us to flow with life.

Many people live struggling against this current. They try to use force or resistance to will their lives into happening in the way they think it should. Others move with it like a sailor using the wind, trusting that the universe is taking them exactly where they need to be at all times. This flow is accessible to everyone because it travels through and around us. We are always riding it—it is just a matter of whether we are willing to go with it or we resist it. Choosing to go with the flow is often a matter of relinquishing the notion that we need to be in control at all times.

The flow is always transporting you where you need to go. It is merely a question of deciding whether you plan on accepting the ride or having it take you there with your feet dragging. Learning to step into it can help you feel a connection to a force that is greater than you and is always there to support you. The decision to go with the flow takes courage because you are surrendering the belief that you need to do everything by yourself. Riding the flow of the universe can be effortless, exhilarating, and unlike anything you ever expected. When you are receptive to being in it, you open yourself to possibilities that exist beyond the grasp of your control.

Welcome to the “No Path”, friends! The path of no path. The Universe pulls and prods you along, tossing you into whatever situation you need to be in. It’s a wild ride, but if you can surrender to it, it’s incredibly comforting and always exciting.

For the better part of my life, I was hell-bent on sticking it to the Universe. It pointed left, I went right. It granted me an opportunity to grow, I invited it to kiss my behind. I actively cultivated my own misery for many years, convincing myself it was a sort of Nietzschean high road.

In the last year or so, I have begun to trust the Universe more, though it is a slow process. Letting go of my old habits and misery-making is often frightening, but it is helping me grow tremendously. I am able to relax slightly (yes, just slightly) for the first time ever. Not only am I able to trust the Universe, but I am entertaining the thought of trusting people. This is an enormous step for me. If you can relate to my path, I highly encourage you to read the Tao Te Ching and the Diamond Heart series by A.H. Almaas. Or feel free to email me (emily at consideringtheuniverse dot com) if you’d like to commiserate.