The Glass of Water or the Glass of Wine
When the Solution Isn’t Where We Think It Is
Written by Sylvie Olivier
Recently, during a “cocktail” workshop, I found myself in front of a beautiful group… yet deeply entangled.
For more than 90 minutes, a few of them were sharing their perspective about someone who wasn’t present. Their words kept going in circles—criticisms, frustrations, misunderstandings, justifications. Each one offered their point of view, trying to “shed light” on the situation… yet sinking deeper into a downward spiral.
It was fascinating to witness how the mind, in its attempt to find a way out, was actually closing the door to clarity. As if each new explanation added one more turn on the inner merry-go-round.
So, I proposed an interruption. A pause. A moment to… simply observe what was.
In front of me were two glasses: a glass of water—clear, neutral—and a glass of red wine—vibrant, warm.
As I often do, I chose to use what was physically present in front of me—simple, ordinary objects on the table—to mirror back what I was sensing from the group.
Spinning in the Glass of Water
I told them: “Everything you’ve just expressed—you’ve poured it into this glass of water. Your thoughts, judgments, scenarios, emotions. And now, you’re all swimming in that glass of water, spinning around, trying to understand, fix, repair.”
They laughed, a little surprised, but the metaphor struck a chord.
I continued: “You all want to take a sip from this glass of wine—to feel joy, openness, lightness… but you don’t know how. Because you’re stuck in the water. And as long as you stay there, all you can see is the murky water of emotion, expectation, and polarity.”
And then came the familiar “yes, but…”
Yes, but it’s hard.
Yes, but this person did that.
Yes, but how can we change things if she doesn’t change?
Sincere attempts, but they all brought the group right back to the bottom of the glass. The mind still wanted to understand. Still looked for a strategy. A logical way out.
But what they truly longed for wasn’t in that glass.
The Endless Dance of Problems and Solutions
Here’s what’s fascinating: every problem naturally attracts its opposite—a solution. Like two sides of the same coin, one never exists without the other. As soon as we focus on a problem, we summon a solution. But the moment we lock our attention on the solution, a new problem shows up right beside it.
It’s an endless loop—nourished by a mind that wants to solve instead of transcending.
So, it’s not about eliminating problems or searching for the right solution. It’s about recognizing the mechanism for what it is: a closed mental circuit. And daring to step out of it—not by finding something better, but by rising vibrationally into a space where the issue simply dissolves into new clarity.
The Invitation to Step Out of the Glass
So, I offered an experience.
I invited the group to move through a harmonization from head to heart.
We began by relaxing the parts of the body still holding tension. I suggested they welcome the Golden Light—this pure, alive, vibrant frequency.
Then, I gently guided them to their Golden Heart. That tiny sacred space. The place where nothing is solved through reasoning… but everything transforms through Presence.
From that space, I called in the person they had been talking about—not as a job title or role in the company, but as a luminous being, free and joyful. I invited them to see her happy, relaxed, radiant. To feel Compassion. Pure Love. Plenitude.
Something shifted. The air got lighter. So did their faces. The energy rose.
And there was nothing left to fix.
They were deeply moved by what their hearts could now feel.
Naming Things… Differently
Stepping out of the glass of water doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It’s not about denying the disharmony or staying silent in the name of love or peace.
Quite the opposite.
When we vibrate from the heart, we gain the ability to name what is. To speak the truth of what we feel. To express ourselves with authenticity when a situation is out of alignment. But that expression no longer stems from judgment, wounding, or reactivity. It is infused with genuine Compassion, Presence, and integrity.
When we speak from this heart space, what we say is received differently—and can truly invite transformation rather than reinforce separation.
And You?
Do you feel like you’re in a glass of water right now?
Are you spinning in circles looking for a solution… when the vibration of wine—celebration, unity, elevation—is right beside you?
It’s not something to do. It’s a surrender. A soft leaning into the heart.
The passage is here. Within you. In every moment.
With gentleness and Presence,
Sylvie
💡 A Note on the Analogy:
The glass of wine is used here as a symbol only. It represents the frequency of joy, flow, celebration, and release. This is in no way an invitation to consume alcohol if that doesn’t resonate with you. The analogy could just as easily be a glass of fresh juice, a comforting infusion, or any vibrational nectar of your choice. What matters most is the feeling it evokes in you.
