Today was one of those days I was watching YouTube (yeah, maybe a little too much), and something really hit home — so much so that I had to take notes and turn it into this article. Honestly, I’m writing this as much for myself as for anyone else who might need the reminder.
We’ve all been at a gas station or convenience store grabbing a drink. Whatever you choose, the contents of that bottle were put there intentionally.
If you picked up a bottle of Dasani, Coca-Cola filled it. If it was Gatorade, Pepsi did the honors. These bottles don’t wake up surprised by what’s inside. They don’t complain that the water tastes like Coke. Every bottle is filled on purpose, by the company whose name is on the label.
And yet sometimes we like to pretend people are different.
We act surprised by what comes out of us when pressure hits — stress, anger, bitterness, fear, pride. Then we blame someone else:
“They made me mad.”
“Life’s been hard.”
“They offended me.”
Maybe all of that is true. But pressure doesn’t create what comes out of us — it just reveals it.
Pressure Tells the Truth
Open that bottle you just bought. The only thing that comes out is what was already inside. Nothing magically got added after it left the bottling facility.
It’s the same for people.
If anger spills out — it was already there.
If care or concern shows up — it was already there.
If bitterness leaks out — no one else snuck it in overnight.
The truth hurts, but it’s worth facing. We fill ourselves, and we’re responsible for what comes out, because we allowed it in.
Sure, bad experiences happen. Harsh words get said. People disappoint us. But you don’t have to let that in. You might walk through a sprinkler and get a little wet, but if you stand there long enough, you’ll be soaked. Keep moving.
Boats Don’t Sink From the Outside
A boat can be surrounded by rough seas and still stay afloat — unless it lets water in. Boats don’t sink because of the water around them. They sink because of the water inside them.
We spend too much time blaming other people, the environment, the culture, the noise, and chaos of life. The real danger is what we absorb, store, and carry inside. Choose wisely what — and who — you let into your boat.
Oil and Water Don’t Mix — and That’s the Point
Picture a barrel filled with engine oil — that thick, black, messy stuff. That oil represents the junk in our lives: resentment, envy, negativity, all the small and big garbage we carry.
Now pour clean water into that barrel. Water is heavier and sinks. The more you add, the more oil gets pushed out.
The lesson: you can’t remove the bad by obsessing over it. You remove it by adding the good.
- Good thoughts
- Good influences
- Good habits
- Good conversations
- Good input
Over time, the clean stuff displaces the junk. It takes time, just like maintaining an old vehicle — detailing it, buffing the paint, doing regular upkeep. Nothing instant, but it works.
Fill It Yourself
Here’s the difference between us and those bottled drinks:
They’re filled by someone else. We fill ourselves.
What you fill yourself with is your choice, and it should be intentional:
- What you watch
- What you listen to
- What you dwell on
- Who you surround yourself with
- What you rehearse in your mind when no one’s around
Think of it like filling your car at the gas station. Choose wisely. And when pressure builds — because it will — whatever you’ve filled yourself with will pour out. No excuses. No surprises.
Final Thought
None of us are perfect, and we never will be. But we are responsible for what we let in.
If you don’t like what’s coming out of you, stop blaming the squeeze. Take a hard look at what you’re filling up with. Change it, and over time, what comes out will change too.
This isn’t a theory. It’s just how bottles, boats, and people work.
From the Shop Stool