“Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.”
— Alan Watts
Simplified Meaning:
When you stir up muddy water, it stays cloudy and you can't see through it. But if you stop stirring and just leave it alone, the dirt eventually settles to the bottom and the water becomes clear again. This idea can be applied to our minds and lives. Sometimes, when we're upset or confused, trying to fix things right away can make us even more stressed and confused. Instead, if we take a step back and give ourselves some time to calm down, we can think more clearly and make better decisions. For example, imagine you have a big argument with a friend. Right after the fight, you're both emotional and anything you say might make things worse. If you take a break and come back to the conversation later, when you're both calmer, you're more likely to solve the problem. So, when you're facing a problem or feeling overwhelmed, sometimes the best thing to do is to take a break and wait for things to settle naturally. This way, you'll be in a better state of mind to handle the situation.