Firepower: Whirlpools

Published by Christy Reed on

Firepower: Whirlpools

Phil Connor

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Author’s Note: This year, I’ll take readers on a journey that explores how our lives are like rivers running through us. Each attribute of these rivers represents an aspect of our lives. So grab a paddle and join me in the Firepower kayak as we embark on a journey to explore the river within you. This month, we’ll explore whirlpools.

Life Is Like a River

This year, we have been imagining our life as a river. Our childhood is the mountain spring: pure, playful, and full of potential. As we grow, our river gains strength. We gain speed, purpose, and direction. We encounter bends (changes in career, relationships, or beliefs), rocks (difficult events), and tributaries (new people and experiences joining our path). Some stretches are calm and scenic; others are wild and dangerous.

Importantly, like a river, our journey is one-way. We can reflect on the past, but we can’t paddle upstream forever. Our job is to move forward—sometimes with intention, sometimes by letting go and flowing with the current. Along its journey, it faces rocks, bends, debris, and whirlpools—elements of nature that can either shape or shake it. Just as a river constantly flows forward, so too must we continue moving, adapting to the terrain that unfolds before us.

Whirlpools stand out from other obstacles a river encounters. They represent spinning, destabilizing forces, moments when momentum turns in on itself, trapping and threatening to pull everything under. In the river of life, whirlpools appear as emotional turbulence, unexpected setbacks, toxic relationships, addictions, or fear. They can spin us into confusion and leave us feeling stuck or lost. However, with awareness, preparation, and the right tools, we can navigate around them or, if caught, find our way out.

In the river of life, whirlpools appear as emotional turbulence, unexpected setbacks, toxic relationships, addictions, or fear. They can spin us into confusion and leave us feeling stuck or lost.

Life’s Unexpected Traps

Whirlpools in a river are spinning currents, formed when opposing forces collide. In life, they represent those moments where progress seems to stop and we feel pulled inward, trapped in cycles of thought or behavior that don’t serve us.

Common life whirlpools include:

  • Burnout: Working tirelessly without rest, losing passion and clarity.
  • Toxic Relationships: Getting stuck in unhealthy dynamics that drain our energy.
  • Self-Doubt: Repetitive negative thinking that keeps us from moving forward.
  • Addiction: Patterns which may be of substances (for me, food is a whirlpool), habits, or behaviors that hijack our freedom.
  • Grief or Loss: Emotional whirlpools that spin us into sadness, denial, or detachment.

In each case, the experience is similar to a physical whirlpool—we feel motion, but we’re not moving forward. We may struggle against it, but the more we fight without a strategy, the deeper we may sink.

Avoiding the Whirlpools

While not all whirlpools can be avoided, many can be anticipated and sidestepped with self-awareness and planning. Here are some ways to stay clear of life’s most common traps:

  • Know the Flow of Our River: Regular self-reflection helps us recognize when we’re approaching a whirlpool. Paying attention to our energy, emotions, and stress levels is an important practice. Journaling, meditation, or simply checking in with ourselves weekly can help detect warning signs early.
  • Set Healthy Boundaries: Like sandbanks guide a river’s flow, boundaries help protect our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Some simple examples include learning to say “no,” guarding our time, and not overextending ourselves (especially for things that don’t align with our values).
  • Nurture Strong Relationships: We need to build a tribe of trusted people, which may include friends, family, and mentors, who can alert us when we seem off course. When others are attuned to our patterns, they can often spot danger before we do.
  • Practice Resilience: A rigid river crashes into rocks. A flexible one flows around them. Life will always throw curveballs, we must learn to bend, and not break. Accepting change as part of the journey. Adapting our expectations and staying open to new routes.
  • Feed Our Soul: We cannot wait until we’re depleted to rest. Instead, we must build in regular practices that nourish our spirit: creative outlets, time in nature, spiritual connection, or simply doing things that make us laugh. A well-fed soul is more resistant to life’s pull toward burnout or despair. During a recent rough patch, I committed to read, write, and row each day. This kept me refreshed to navigate the challenges.

        Escaping a Whirlpool

        Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we get pulled into a whirlpool. Here’s how to get out:

        • Stop Fighting the Spin: It may seem counterintuitive, but struggling against a whirlpool often worsens our position. The first step is to recognize that we’re in one and stop resisting in panic. Accepting our current state allows for clarity. This doesn’t mean giving up. It means conserving energy for strategic action.
        • Look for the Calm: In physical whirlpools, there’s often a calm center or a directional flow that can guide us out. In life, this might look like stepping back from the situation, taking a break, or finding silence to listen to our intuition. Don’t underestimate the power of stillness amid chaos. (Consider revisiting my March through July 2021 columns that outline the power of a P.I.V.O.T.)
        • Reach for a Lifeline: We’re not meant to navigate every storm alone. Whether it’s seeking spiritual guidance, confiding in a friend, or talking to a therapist, asking for help is not weakness—it’s wisdom. Often, someone outside the swirl can see a path out that we can’t.
        • Create Small Wins: When stuck in a whirlpool of stagnation, we can often reclaim momentum with small, manageable actions, such as cleaning a room, going for a walk, or writing a list. Accomplishing even tiny tasks can reignite a sense of progress and control for us.
        • Reframe the Experience: Every whirlpool carries a lesson. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” we should ask, “What is this trying to teach me?” Pain often points to deeper truths about what we need, what we’re avoiding, or how we’ve grown. Reframing helps transform suffering into insight.

              Flowing Forward

              Ultimately, rivers don’t stop at whirlpools. They continue on. So do we. Our paths may be altered, our pace slowed, but the current of life always beckons us onward. The goal isn’t to avoid all turbulence; it’s to develop the inner strength and tools to navigate it with grace. Like kayakers, we need to practice the steps above to effectively navigate the choppy waters ahead.

              In learning to recognize life’s whirlpools, steering around them when we can, and rising above them when we must, we become better navigators of our own journey. We move with wisdom, not just willpower. With patience, not just pressure. With presence, not just plans.

              And like the river, we trust that no matter how winding the course, we are flowing toward something greater. 

              Thanks for reading—and have a prosperous month ahead.

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              Phil Connor

              Phil Connor

              Phil is always working with his team at Ignition Labratory to find new ways to spread the fire. If you found Phil's column impactful, or if you'd like to have him speak at an upcoming event, contact him at phil.connor@live.com.

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