This is an analogy relating to MentalStateCalledFlow, and to ListenToTheCode, CodeSmell, etc...
Flow is what a river does. But water and a channel is what a river is.
What is it about what it is that makes it so good at what it does?
The channel guides the water. The water shapes the channel.
You need to be like water flowing through the channel of your (software development/mainentance) work, being guided by it in your action, but ultimately shaping it through your action.
The missing ingredient here is a source of energy.