A few weeks ago, a friend of mine jokingly told me that she hates when my actions are deliberately a reflection of hers. My response, “I’m like water.” She then asked me what I meant by that statement and I sent her a direct link to the source…the legend himself, Mr. Bruce Lee.

Today, as I recorded my 7 Days of Wisdom video for Episode 15, one of the discussion points I mentioned was “Staying Cool Under Pressure.” Once again, I revisited Bruce Lee’s “Empty your mind, be like water clip.” According to my knowledge, this clip originates from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”

This time around, in my 7 Days of Wisdom video for Episode 15, the focus of discussion was on staying cool under pressure and taking the humble road. In my experience, I personally believe that when we remain calm and tranquil as humans, we allow the emotions of others to bounce off of us as a reflection of their own actions. That reflection, whether positive or negative, then gets directed back to the owner of those emotions. When we act as a mirror, we allow people to see themselves through us. In many instances, this approach requires a ton of patience, confidence, and taking the humble road.

In author Sean Covey’s national bestseller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” he gives a great example of being proactive vs reactive. Covey uses the analogy of being like soda vs being like water. He mentions, “Reactive people make choices based in impulse. They are like a can of soda. If life shakes them up a bit, the pressure builds and they suddenly explode.” On the contrary, “Proactive people make choices based on values. They think before they act. Unlike reactive people who are full of carbonation, proactive people are like water. No bubbling, no fizzing, no pressure. They are calm, cool, and in control.”

As Bruce Lee says:

“Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or creep or drip or crash…be water my friend, be water.” – Bruce Lee

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(Uh • Kway • Us) Aquaus Kelley is a forward-thinking Brand Strategist, Educator, and Music Publisher. As the Founder of A Lovers Ambition Lifestyle Group, he specializes in identifying talent and creating opportunities for brand development, exposure, and growth. Aquaus has worked with companies and organizations such as Cornerstone Agency, City Year Miami, Universal Music Group, and W Hotels. He is extremely passionate about helping companies adapt to culture and building value between brands and their consumers centered around love. His ultimate mission is to use his influence to project positivity across the globe and invest in the collective future of society through the arts, education, entertainment, and leadership.