Word of the Week: Drift

What if, just for a moment, you let yourself drift? Not in a lost or aimless way, but in a way that allows you to release control, loosen your grip, and move with life instead of against it.

We spend so much time resisting, pushing, and striving that the idea of drifting can feel uncomfortable. We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re not actively chasing something, we’re falling behind. But drifting isn’t about giving up—it’s about letting go of resistance and embracing flow. It’s about moving with ease instead of forcing every next step.

The Beauty of Drifting

There’s something freeing about not needing to have everything figured out. When you drift, you give yourself permission to be present, to explore without pressure, and to see where life naturally guides you.

Drifting is the deep breath you take when you stop forcing an outcome. It’s the creativity that comes when you allow your mind to wander. It’s the unexpected conversation that leads to clarity, the slow morning that offers space for reflection, the moment you realize that not knowing what’s next doesn’t mean you’re lost—it means you’re open.

How to Drift with Intention

Drifting isn’t about disengaging—it’s about moving through life with more trust and less tension. It’s a practice in allowing instead of controlling, in softening instead of gripping.

Here are a few ways to embrace it:

1.) Let Go of the Need for Certainty – Not every step needs to be planned. Give yourself permission to embrace the unknown.

2.) Loosen Your Grip on Control – Pay attention to where you’re holding on too tightly. What would happen if you softened your approach?

3.) Follow What Feels Light – Instead of forcing something to work, notice where ease and energy naturally pull you.

4.) Trust in Timing – Some things take shape at their own pace. You don’t have to rush the process.

5.) Breathe and Be Present – Drifting is about allowing yourself to experience this moment fully, without needing to fix or force anything.

Drifting Isn’t Aimless—It’s Expansive

There’s a difference between floating through life without direction and drifting with openness. Drifting doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you trust yourself enough to let things unfold naturally. It means understanding that not every decision needs urgency, not every path needs to be forced, and not every answer needs to be immediate.

This week, give yourself permission to drift—not to escape but to explore. Notice where life naturally carries you when you stop resisting. You might be surprised at what you find.

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About the Author:

MDW's voice for all things mental health, therapist and LCSW, Carrie Summers, embodies inclusion and creating safe spaces for all people that is free of judgment.

Carrie is dedicated to empowering individuals like you through personalized counseling. Specializing in perinatal, relationship issues, divorce, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse recovery.

Carrie owns her practice, Noreila Healing & Wellness, in Wheaton, Illinois, and is available in-person and online for therapy.

Learn more at noreilahealing.com