Only dead fish go with the flow

I don't know where I heard this but it makes sense to me.  I constantly hear people saying they are just going with the flow.  I think it means just letting life take you where ever it wants without you particularly trying to direct anything.  I looked it up and google provided the following definitions:

To 'go with the flow' means to not have a particularly strong opinion on something, and thus follow the majority. Or to not attempt to exert a large amount of influence on the course of events.

I hear people who go with the flow described as laid back or easy going.  Basically going with the flow means you follow the majority or just take the easy path in life.  That's fine sometimes.  If you are with your friends and the main point is to be together rather than what you actually do then yeah, go with the flow.  Or if you have decided to focus on one part of your life then you can just drift in other parts of your life.  If you decided to put your energy into your family you might just drift along at work.
 
But if you are just going with the flow through your whole life then how do you ever achieve anything.  Isn't it the things that you have to work for, the things that challenge you that you get the most out if when you succeed?  If you really just go with the flow then do you never want anything for yourself.  Or are you just suppressing your own desires to avoid confrontation or to avoid failure.
 
I can be a bit of a stress monkey so people keep telling me I should go with the flow.  I don't think I agree.  I want things in life, if I just sit back and wait I might not get them.  I'd rather try to get where I want to be and enjoy the trip, if I don't make it I still have the journey.
 
I've spent a few years going with the flow in a lot of areas of my life.  People around me might say all areas but they can't see the inside.  I've worked hard to get my head into a better place.  I have done lots of therapy, lots of thinking to work out how to try to control the destructive thoughts in my head.  If I had gone with the flow in my head I would be suicidally depressed.  I would have continued on in a downwards spiral of negativity.  My flow was pretty much rapids heading over Victoria Falls to destruction.  
 
So no I don't think I'll go with the flow, only dead fish go with the flow, think about it.  I'm not a fish and I'm not dead.  I'm a mammal and very much alive so I think I will mix going with the flow with some fighting the current and some wave jumping.