The Power of Water
Water can be a reminder that we don't always have to move in straight lines. Water flows, pauses, changes direction and finds its own way around whatever is in front of it.
Image credit: Adobe Stock
There’s something about water that has always drawn me in, the sound of it, the feelings I get when I’m by the sea or a river, the way it moves without needing to rush, or the invitation to pause for a while.
For some people, it may mean swimming in a pool, dipping their toes into a river or diving in with wild swimming. For others, it may be a warm bath at the end of a difficult day, having a long shower, drinking a glass of cold water, or listening to the rain against the window.
One of my favorite ways to spend time with water is a really good bath, If I have the time and energy, I'll put on some calming music, find a good book, bring along a cup of tea and some dark chocolate, making it feel like a small act of care or just getting into the warm water at the end of a long day and letting myself stop. There's something quite comforting about being held by warm water. I don't have to be productive, answer anything, work anything out, be responsible for anybody else. I can simply be there, nourishment in the small rituals.
Water and our senses
One of the things I find interesting about water is how sensory it can be. We can notice its temperature, the weight and pressure of it against our skin, the sound it makes, the movement of water around our bodies, the warmth of a shower, the coolness of a splash of water on our hands.
For those of us who may have experienced trauma, long-term stress or estrangement, coming back into our senses can sometimes offer a gentle way of reconnecting with the present moment.
A little water-based grounding
Invitation to try this next time you're washing your hands.
Pause for a few seconds.
Notice the temperature of the water.
Feel it running over your hands.
Notice the sensation of the soap.
Listen to the sound of the water.
Feel your feet on the floor.
Take one comfortable breath in and out.
And then carry on with your day.
It might sound simple, but there is something powerful about finding small moments of presence within ordinary life, our daily rituals. We don't always need another activity to add to our already busy lives, sometimes we can turn something we're already doing into a tiny moment of connection.
Water as movement
Water can also change the way we move. In a pool, our bodies are supported differently, allowing us to float, stretch, walk, swim or simply be in water. There doesn't need to be a routine or anything to achieve, slowly moving our hands through the water, noticing the resistance, making small circles with our arms or feeling the water around our legs, the feeling of being contained and held by the water.
For a little while, I lived on a narrowboat. I remember living on the river gave me a feeling of belonging, something I don’t often feel. I felt like I was invited for a short while to be a part of the natural world around me, while also moving with the gentle flow of the water. There was something about allowing the river to carry on its journey, finding my own place within it, that felt both grounding and freeing.
A glass of water
When life is busy, I can completely forget to drink enough, sometimes I'll suddenly realise I've been absorbed in something for hours and haven't stopped, taking a little moment filling up my favourite glass and sitting down while I drink it, I might notice the coolness, the taste and the weight of the glass in my hand. A tiny pause, a small act of care, not because I need to be perfect at looking after myself, but because my body deserves some attention too.
Taking a warm bath or shower, swimming at your local pool, sitting beside a river, lake or the sea, dipping hands or feet into warm water, listening to the rain, drinking a glass of water slowly, or simply noticing the water while washing hands. Water can be a reminder that we don't always have to move in straight lines, water flows, pauses, changes direction and finds its own way around whatever is in front of it.
Water reminds me to listen and take space to move at my own pace.
“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.”
― Laura Gilpin
Image credit: Adobe Stock
Rooted Wellbeing is a monthly series exploring everyday wellbeing practices for healing and growth in simple, inclusive and accessible ways to support ourselves through the challenges of estrangement. Offering gentle invitations to pause, reconnect and grow small roots of steadiness and care.
I'm Jules, an Integrative Counsellor, Coach and Facilitator with Breathing Space and currently training as a Somatic Therapist. To find out more about my work - Jules Allan Therapy and Wellbeing
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