---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy to opt out and follow the…"
description: "\"“It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river and end up stranded without knowing how you got there or how you can reverse the years of s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg"
---

#  It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river…

![“It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river and end up stranded without knowing how you got there or how you can reverse the years of swimming with the tide.” quote by Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg)

> ““It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river and end up stranded without knowing how you got there or how you can reverse the years of swimming with the tide.””

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Following the crowd leads to loss of direction and difficulty reversing past choices.

**In simple terms:** Going with the flow can trap you.

Key Takeaway

Question the current path.

Themes

conformity self‑awareness direction agency

Mood

contemplative motivational

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal growth
- habit change

Key Concepts

psychology of habit decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- What streams are you drifting in?
- How can you regain control?

A Different Perspective

Breaking habits is hard without support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[End Stranded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-stranded-4473578/) [Follow Stream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-stream-4473577/) [Inspirational-quotes-about-life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes-about-life/) [Motivational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-quotes/) [Quotes to live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quotes-to-live-by/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Stranded Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranded-knowing-4473579/) [Stream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stream/) [Stream River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stream-river-1445315/)

## Related quotes

> [A nothing day full of wild beauty … Little fish stream by, a river in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-schuyler/a-nothing-day-full-of-wild-beauty-little-fish-stream-by-a-river-in/)

[James Schuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-schuyler/)

> [What the Way is to the world, the stream is to the river and the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-the-way-is-to-the-world-the-stream-is-to-the-river-and-the-sea/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“None of us have ever left the borders of this forest, we do not know the way out of it. And to have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-stefan/none-of-us-have-ever-left-the-borders-of-this-forest-we-do-not-know/)

[Nikola Stefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-stefan/)

> [“I was born in a country of brooks and rivers, in a corner of Champagne, called Le Vallage for the great number of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/i-was-born-in-a-country-of-brooks-and-rivers-in-a-corner-of-champagne/)

[Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/)

> [“If we can stand fast while the waves of criticism crash around us, we can transcend their expectations and the way they underestimate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/if-we-can-stand-fast-while-the-waves-of-criticism-crash-around-us-we/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“I wish to cup knowledge in my hand and drink it as one drinks water by the side of the stream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-wish-to-cup-knowledge-in-my-hand-and-drink-it-as-one-drinks-water/)

[Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/)

> [Are you searching for the river of your soul? Then come out of your prison. Leave the stream and join the river that flows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/are-you-searching-for-the-river-of-your-soul-then-come-out-of-your/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [I work a lot with sounds based on stream of consciousness. I like the way it sounds, then I turn it into something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-work-a-lot-with-sounds-based-on-stream-of-consciousness-i-like-the/)

[Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/)

> [Some days writing flows like a stream and there are times I get stuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-r-dhanush/some-days-writing-flows-like-a-stream-and-there-are-times-i-get-stuck/)

[Aishwarya R. Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-r-dhanush/)

> [We are going to see a steady stream, I predict, of Nobel prizes coming out of chemistry and given to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/we-are-going-to-see-a-steady-stream-i-predict-of-nobel-prizes-coming/)

[Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/)

> [We'd been noticing how much more important the internet had become - once information is out there in the world now, anyone can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/we-d-been-noticing-how-much-more-important-the-internet-had-become/)

[Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [Dive bars rely on a steady stream of neighborhood regulars to keep their doors open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-evans/dive-bars-rely-on-a-steady-stream-of-neighborhood-regulars-to-keep/)

[Sean Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-evans/)

> [One of the first houses we lived in was like out of a fairy story. We had a stream that ran through our garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/one-of-the-first-houses-we-lived-in-was-like-out-of-a-fairy-story-we/)

[Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/)

> [When you drink from the stream remember the spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/when-you-drink-from-the-stream-remember-the-spring/)

[Chinese Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverbs/)

## More by Chris Erzfeld

> [“Don’t stay because you fear what will happen if you leave. Your mind is constantly playing tricks on you. Standing up for yourself will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/don-t-stay-because-you-fear-what-will-happen-if-you-leave-your-mind/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“If we can stand fast while the waves of criticism crash around us, we can transcend their expectations and the way they underestimate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/if-we-can-stand-fast-while-the-waves-of-criticism-crash-around-us-we/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“If you find yourself stuck at a job that is slowly strangling your soul from the inside out, and you feel a burning desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/if-you-find-yourself-stuck-at-a-job-that-is-slowly-strangling-your/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“Inspiration is not something that gives you permission to begin your work; inspiration is the reward you get after you start working.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/inspiration-is-not-something-that-gives-you-permission-to-begin-your/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“One of the greatest dangers for us creators is that we are impatiently waiting for inspiration to strike before we begin our work. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/one-of-the-greatest-dangers-for-us-creators-is-that-we-are/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“The arguments today will be a memory tomorrow, but our work will stand the test of time when we trust ourselves enough to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/the-arguments-today-will-be-a-memory-tomorrow-but-our-work-will-stand/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“If you can plan ahead into the future, you will also be able to detach yourself from minor difficulties today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/if-you-can-plan-ahead-into-the-future-you-will-also-be-able-to-detach/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“For you to reach a state of creative enlightenment, you must wage war on yourself, and start working. Only then will inspiration reward you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/for-you-to-reach-a-state-of-creative-enlightenment-you-must-wage-war/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“You must learn how to separate a detrimental situation from which you must burn all the bridges from when you must partake in hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/you-must-learn-how-to-separate-a-detrimental-situation-from-which-you/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“We do not let our ego plan a counter-attack when people underestimate our creative abilities, we speak through our work instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/we-do-not-let-our-ego-plan-a-counter-attack-when-people-underestimate/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“Mentally prepare your escape, and make a run for it as soon as you see the exit. Never let fear and your naivete discourage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/mentally-prepare-your-escape-and-make-a-run-for-it-as-soon-as-you-see/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“You must be hard on yourself and know when it’s time to quit, but you must be even more relentless when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/you-must-be-hard-on-yourself-and-know-when-it-s-time-to-quit-but-you/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“People’s judgments, criticisms and power games won’t hit you as hard when your plan is greater than the assault.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/people-s-judgments-criticisms-and-power-games-won-t-hit-you-as-hard/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“Trust your inner judgment. Be prepared to work for what you know is right, but avoid the insufferable tragedies of running with the infectious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/trust-your-inner-judgment-be-prepared-to-work-for-what-you-know-is/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

> [“Always maintain a steady eye on what you know is yours for the taking, and plot with all the energy you can muster to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/always-maintain-a-steady-eye-on-what-you-know-is-yours-for-the-taking/)

[Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

[Explore all 20 Chris Erzfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/)

## More Inspirational-quotes-about-life quotes

> [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Spend time with people who enrich your mind, nourish your heart, and illuminate your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/spend-time-with-people-who-enrich-your-mind-nourish-your-heart-and/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“I’m no expert, by far, but I know it will fade in time. Somehow the hurt transforms into valuable wisdom that you wouldn’t trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonita-clifton/i-m-no-expert-by-far-but-i-know-it-will-fade-in-time-somehow-the-hurt/)

[Bonita Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonita-clifton/)

> [“Light on its worst day will conquer darkness on its best day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/light-on-its-worst-day-will-conquer-darkness-on-its-best-day/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“We have control on every word of the dictionary except for the 2:; "Death" and "Heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-tak/we-have-control-on-every-word-of-the-dictionary-except-for-the-2/)

[Nikita Tak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-tak/)

> [“Emotions can be tools. We just have to learn how to use the right tool for the right job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-caren/emotions-can-be-tools-we-just-have-to-learn-how-to-use-the-right-tool/)

[David A. Caren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-caren/)

> [“Your worth is not what you have, but who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-worth-is-not-what-you-have-but-who-you-are/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“The sun and stars never apologize for shinning; neither should you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-sun-and-stars-never-apologize-for-shinning-neither-should-you/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“When I can’t fight, I need you to fight harder. When I can’t be strong anymore, I need you to be stronger." - Neela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seril/when-i-can-t-fight-i-need-you-to-fight-harder-when-i-can-t-be-strong/)

[Steven Seril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seril/)

> [“Touch a day you will never see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-thompson-iii/touch-a-day-you-will-never-see/)

[Malachi Thompson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-thompson-iii/)

> [“Other people will not always see our worth the way we wish they would. Sometimes our own loved ones won’t be able to compute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stalina-goodwin/other-people-will-not-always-see-our-worth-the-way-we-wish-they-would/)

[Stalina Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stalina-goodwin/)

> [“If they say you will fall, rise. If they say you will fail, succeed. If they say you will break, kept it together. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-they-say-you-will-fall-rise-if-they-say-you-will-fail-succeed-if/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Rain is just God weeping for Earth’s troubles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/rain-is-just-god-weeping-for-earth-s-troubles/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“If the past could be changed, it would not exist. If the future could be stopped, it would not survive. If the present could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-the-past-could-be-changed-it-would-not-exist-if-the-future-could/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Let your light shine as an inspiration to humanity and BE THE REASON someone believes in the goodness of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/let-your-light-shine-as-an-inspiration-to-humanity-and-be-the-reason/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

[Browse all 388 Inspirational-quotes-about-life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes-about-life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river and end up stranded without knowing how you got there or how you can reverse the years of swimming with the tide.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Erzfeld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-stream-down-the-river-and-end-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational-quotes-about-life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-stream-down-the-river-and-end-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/chris-erzfeld-27671_inspirational-quotes_it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-str_532978.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is easy to opt out and follow the stream down the river and end up stranded without knowing how you got…” — Chris Erzfeld",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chris Erzfeld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It is easy to opt out...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-stream-down-the-river-and-end-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/it-is-easy-to-opt-out-and-follow-the-stream-down-the-river-and-end-up/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
