The River Is Calmest Where It Is Deepest

 The River Is Calmest Where It Is Deepest

There’s an old proverb: The river is calmest where it is deepest. I’ve thought about this often—how depth and stillness go hand in hand, and how the most powerful forces move with grace rather than chaos.

In the shallow parts of a river, water tumbles over rocks, crashes against fallen branches, and churns wildly. It’s noisy, unpredictable, constantly shifting. But in the deepest parts, the river moves with quiet certainty, undisturbed by the wind or the surface storms.

The Depth of Experience

In life, depth comes with experience, wisdom, and self-knowledge. A person who has truly known themselves—who has sat with their pain, confronted their fears, and found peace in solitude—moves differently in the world. They don’t react impulsively to every challenge. They don’t seek validation from outside sources. Like the deep river, they hold steady, carrying an inner calm that others can feel.

This is something I witnessed in my husband. He lives his life in the center,his world guided by teachings that went beyond what the eye could see. Even when he faced heartbreak, loss, or the turbulence of the material world, he remained centered in something deeper. He lived in the deep part of the river.

Stillness as Strength

In our culture, we often equate strength with force, noise, or aggression. But true power doesn’t need to announce itself. The strongest people I have known are not the loudest. They don’t waste energy proving their worth. Their presence alone is enough.

Think of the elders who sit quietly at the edge of a gathering, watching, listening, only speaking when their words will bring clarity. Think of the martial artist who waits with absolute stillness before striking with precision. Think of the yogi in meditation, unmoved by distractions, settled deep into the rhythm of their breath.

Finding Depth in Our Own Lives

So how do we cultivate this depth in ourselves? How do we become the deep river instead of the churning, restless surface?

1. Create Space for Stillness – Whether through meditation, breathwork, or simply sitting with yourself in silence, depth is found in stillness. The more comfortable we become in quiet, the more we learn about who we really are.

2. Choose Meaning Over Noise – Not every battle is worth fighting, not every argument needs a response. When we focus on what truly matters, we stop reacting to every ripple on the surface.

3. Move with Intention – Instead of rushing, we can slow down. Instead of forcing, we can allow. There is a wisdom in knowing when to act and when to let things unfold.

4. Trust the Depths – The river does not question itself. It flows, knowing it is guided by something greater. When we trust the deep current within us—our intuition, our truth—we find a peace that cannot be shaken.

The world will always have its chaos, its noise, its restless currents. But beneath it all, there is a place of stillness and power, waiting for those willing to go deeper.

Thank you James for the consistent example .May we all find our way there.

~Shanti Freedom Das