Shaun Livingston spent more than 15 years as a professional basketball player in the NBA. His understanding of the intricacies of sports, especially in a team environment like basketball, is evident in his quote.

Livingston had many highs and lows throughout his career, including injuries that could have ended it early. Instead of worrying about things that were out of his control, like management choices or the behavior of other players, he learned to concentrate only on what he could control, which was his performance on the court. He was able to keep a positive outlook throughout his league career thanks to this mindset.

Consider a river that flows through various terrains; occasionally it passes over flat areas without any problems, and other times it comes across rocks that create turbulence. Athletes must control their focus on what they can control, which is their own performance, while acknowledging that many other factors are out of their control. This is similar to how a river can only avoid obstacles rather than directly control them.

Livingston's guidance encourages people to accept that external circumstances may be unpredictable and focus on doing their best within their sphere of influence. This method encourages resilience and maintains people's sense of reality by reminding them to keep their eyes on the important things in the face of difficulties or disappointments.