Resisting or going with the flow?

Frequently, I ask myself whether there’s more merit in “Resisting” or “Going with the Flow” and first and foremost I’m telling myself: “It depends…” Knowing when to resist and when to go with the flow is a delicate balance that depends on the context, my values, and my goals. 

I will resist when something violates my ethics, my integrity, or my deeply held beliefs. Same thing when I see harm being done to others or to me, like abuse, discrimination or exploitation, I must stand up against it. 

Also when going along with things I would regret, then I need to push back. Each time someone is disrespecting my limits (emotional, physical or professional), I can’t stay silent. Then there are also times when resistance is needed to break unhealthy patterns, learn resilience, or drive change.

Conversely, I should probably go with the flow when I deal with trivial issues, like minor disagreements, small inconveniences, as flexibility goes a long way in reducing superfluous stress. 

Of course, when circumstances are beyond my control, like under natural catastrophes or societal shifts, I remind myself that adaptability is wiser than futile resistance. I also go with the flow when teamwork or personal relationships matters more to me than being "right" or sticking to my principles. 

Over the years, I’ve also found that over-controlling often stifles inspiration while simply surrendering to the process can lead to unexpected and positive outcomes. 

Finally I try to remember that not every battle is worth fighting and that I should not exhaust myself for minute benefits. In practice, before deciding between these two attitudes I should pause and reflect by wondering how this aligns with my values and what’s the price to pay? 

I should also make sure that I’m not resisting out of fear, ego, or going with the flow out of avoidance? Remember that a little imagining into the future goes a long way and it always helps to project if I’ll look back with pride, regret, or indifference? 

So, as always, balance is key. At the end of the day, wisdom lies in knowing when I should stand like a mountain and when I should flow like a river...