Awakening to Life’s Hidden Messages You Can Lead The Horse To Water, But Then What?
Welcome back to the Life Balance Advantage — where we explore the quiet miracles, subtle wake-up calls, and spiritual truths that lie just beneath the surface of our everyday lives.
In today’s podcast and reflection, we explore the phrase:
“You can lead a horse to water… but then what?”
Hi, I’m Mark Armiento. If you’ve ever watched someone walk right past a breakthrough — or missed one yourself — you know what I mean.
This isn’t just about awareness. It’s about seeing what’s right in front of you, and choosing to engage with it. Because the truth is, life’s wisdom is always whispering. Most of us just aren’t listening.
🕵️♂️ Waldo, Water Fountains, and the Power of Observation
Remember the old “Where’s Waldo?” puzzles? You’d spend minutes scanning a chaotic scene, trying to find the one figure that mattered — Waldo, in his striped red-and-white shirt.
It was a game. But it also taught something powerful: The ability to see clearly through distraction.
In my lectures, I use Waldo and a lesser-known companion, “Waldette,” as reminders that finding clarity — finding yourself — takes practice. And most of us haven’t been taught to see through the noise of our daily lives.
I once watched a YouTube video of a woman walking through a mall, fully engaged in a phone call… and walked straight into a water fountain. Funny? At first. But what if she’d been holding a baby instead of a phone?
It’s a metaphor I often return to: being asleep with your eyes open.
🧠 “What Water?” – The Danger of Unseen Truth
There’s an old adage:
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
But after decades of teaching and counseling, I’ve found something even more common:
You can lead someone to insight… and they’ll ask you, “What water?”
In other words, we can be so caught in our own mental fog that we fail to even recognize the truth when it’s offered.
I’ve seen it hundreds of times — students and clients presented with real, actionable insight… and they completely miss it. Not because they’re unwilling — but because they’re unaware.
They’re sleepwalking. And in those moments, that’s not just inconvenient — it’s dangerous.
🌍 Life’s Wake-Up Calls Are Always Happening
Still, I remain hopeful. Why?
Because life, in its infinite wisdom, never stops trying to wake us up.
Every difficult experience — every missed step, failed relationship, emotional breakdown, or unexpected twist — may be part of a greater attempt to raise our awareness.
It’s not personal punishment. It’s personal invitation.
An invitation to stop.
To look again.
To ask: Am I really awake right now?
🧘♀️ Mindfulness Exercise: Count Your Steps
This week’s mindful challenge is simple, but surprisingly revealing:
Before you walk to any destination — inside your home or out — predict how many steps it will take. Then walk, mindfully counting each one.
Let’s say you think your bedroom is 42 steps away. Start walking.
Count them.
See how close your prediction was.
But here’s the secret: It’s not about the number.
It’s about how aware you were with each step.
Were you present?
Did you drift off into thought?
Did you feel the floor beneath your feet?
This small practice builds the muscle of mindfulness — the same one you’ll need to recognize when you’re metaphorically walking toward the fountain… and catch yourself before you fall in.
🦋 What If You Could Finally See the Water?
What if:
- You stopped sleepwalking through life?
- You began seeing the guidance life offers you, every single day?
- You stopped asking, “What water?” and started drinking deeply from it?
What if your wake-up moment wasn’t just a moment… but the beginning of something new?
A life of balance. A life of purpose. A life awake.
If you’re ready to continue your awakening, I encourage you to explore my book
Sleepwalking on a Tightrope, available now on Amazon.
Until next time,
Know you’re blessed — and be well.
