Catch a Wave
I had an inspired conversation recently with a friend about luck and opportunity. What came out of this conversation was a metaphor that, for me, describes how we create and attract wonderful things into our life.
It’s all about surfing. Imagine yourself as an expert surfer, paddling your custom board into the ocean, watching and waiting for the next big wave so you can stand up and feel the thrill as you ride it back to shore. If you think about it, life is a whole lot like this.
The ocean is a vast, tremendous source of power that surges in waves that swell, break, and recede in an endless cycle. Life does that too. Events and people come and go throughout our life. Some pass by without affecting us; others create opportunities that have great impact on us. Successful people consciously seek out and grab these opportunities, just as experienced surfers jump onto the best waves to ride.
Preparedness. Choosing your board, waxing its surface, checking your leash, knowing the terrain, watching the tidal charts, talking to other surfers. All these things help surfers get the most out of their next trip into the water. In much the same way, we have to understand our goals, know what we have, what we need, and how others can help us to capitalize on the opportunities that come our way.
Watchful patience. Surfers spend ninety percent of their time paddling, ten percent actually surfing. Paddling is like routine living, taking care of business every day. But while surfers are paddling, they’re always on the lookout for the next big wave. Their “everyday business” is about positioning themselves for new opportunities.
Attention to timing. Surfers with good timing are rewarded with the best waves. The best season, the best week, the best day, the best hour, the best…right now! They seem to intuitively know when and where to go. Watchful patience means going to the beach when the best waves are crashing, and knowing when it’s not worth the effort. Being sensitive to timing, for example, can mean the difference between a successful job change and a leap into unemployment.
Willingness to risk. Of course, what sets true surfers apart from most people is their ability to overcome a very natural aversion to drowning. Fortunately, most opportunities we encounter don’t involve extreme risk-taking, but tolerating our fear and acting in spite of it is necessary to take advantage of anything new. Of course, surfers do pick their beaches based on their skill set and tolerance for risk. Some surf the Delaware shore; others brave 20-footers off the coast of Hawaii. You can choose the size of your waves in your life but know that, big or small, you can probably handle more than you think you can.
Practiced balance. Successfully shifting from a kneeling to a standing position on a nine-foot board while 800,000 gallons of water crash all around you is no easy task. It requires balance and finesse, acquired from repeated practice gauging and adjusting for the ocean’s movement. In life, the “lucky” are those who strive to keep their life in balance. Healthy habits, positive thinking, nurturing relationships, a fulfilling career, and time to relax all contribute to a readiness for bigger things. It’s hard to catch a wave when you’re doing all you can just to stay afloat.
Weathering the wipeouts. You’re not really a surfer until you’ve wiped out, big time. Despite all preparedness, timing, balance, and practice, you’re going to end up in a wave you can’t control. Does that mean you’re a bad surfer and should give up? Certainly not. Do mishaps, mistakes, and miscalculations make you a bad person and you should give up? Again, no! Surfers assess what happened, make adjustments, and attribute the rest to the incredible power of the ocean. Try that line of thinking, and see how easy it becomes to get up, shake the sand from your shorts, and try again.
Cherishing the cycles. Surfing is about communing with the cyclic nature of the ocean, about catching and experiencing that next great wave. Every wave is different, each one requiring a new way of being on the board and in the water. But each one passes, requiring the surfer to release it and get ready for the next one. So when you set your goals and seize your opportunities, let go of the outcome and allow yourself to see the process as part of the thrill.
Think about how you see opportunities in your life. Do you let them pass you by, one after another? Or are you willing to paddle out past the surf, stand up on your board, and partner with the tremendous power of life? If so, what wave will you ride next?
