Uncertainty is life’s only certainty.
550 years before Jesus, the Chinese Taoists discovered how to gain strength in the midst of turmoil, fear, and panic. They taught that if we lived in accordance with nature rather than fight against it, we would find peace and fulfillment in our daily lives.
The Taoists emphasized that opposites are inseparable — the concept of Yin-Yang.
Good and bad, right and wrong, just and unjust… They are natural forces of the universe that play in constant motion. Each contains within the seed of the other.
We must learn to recognize, accept, and flow with life as it is, rather than how we wish it to be. When we apply these principles in our lives, we will stop wasting valuable time and energy pursuing useless desires that result in unnecessary suffering.
The Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu is one of the fundamental texts of Taoist philosophy. It contains timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was 2500 years ago.
Apply these concepts and discover the inner strength to succeed in the face of all of life’s challenges.
“Follow your path to the end
Accept difficulty as an opportunity
This is the sure way to end up with no difficulties at all”
— Verse 63, Tao Te Ching
It’s easy to doubt yourself when things don’t go your way.
A year ago, nobody talked about social distancing, quarantine, and virus incubation periods. Now, with COVID-19 becoming a part of our daily lives, it’s easy to worry about the future.
Will the economy tank? Will there be a second wave? Will social distancing be our new normal?
I don’t know.
As Socrates said, “the only thing I know is that I know nothing.”
You can wish for life to go back to the way it used to be, but this isn’t realistic.
We can never bring back the past. This does not mean to “think positive” and avoid the truth of your fears and worries. When we lie to ourselves and deny our fear and suffering, those same fears will haunt us with a vengeance.
Instead, sit with your fear. Accept it, understand it.
Why are you afraid? What are you worried about? What are the facts?
There is no need to change anything immediately. The first step is understanding and acceptance. No matter how hard we try, we cannot travel back in time. we cannot bring back our loved ones.
We cannot change the event, but we have the power to change our interpretation of it.
Aren’t difficulties just opportunities for growth? Can’t opportunities also lead to further difficulties, as continued success brings great expectations, more pressure, and public scrutiny?
Difficulty and opportunity are inseparable from each other. They are Yin and Yang. Today, you worry about life’s uncertainties. Tomorrow, you will find a solution. The day after, new problems will arise, and the cycle continues.
Keep going.
“If one doesn’t trust himself how can he trust anyone else?”
— Verse 17, Tao Te Ching
I was always afraid of responsibility. I lacked self-confidence. Instead of thinking for myself, I would latch onto the opinions of others to determine my self-worth.
Because I didn’t trust my own instincts, I blamed others and let them take responsibility for my life. Nothing was ever my fault. I was like a leaf blown by the wind. If the world was fearful, I was fearful.
But that’s no way to live. I’m tired of doubting myself.
We are easily controlled and manipulated when we don’t develop our abilities to think independently.
When you learn to trust yourself, you will find that the world isn’t as scary as you previously thought. Your unique power lies in the way you take responsibility for your life — your “ability to respond”.
I’ve read and watched thousands of hours of personal development over the years. They’re all a variation on the same theme. Belief comes first, action follows. Action fuels further belief, and that’s how progress is made.
Chris Do’s video, “What you Believe Becomes Reality” is the best talk I’ve ever seen on the subject of belief and action. I hope it helps you realize that the strength you seek won’t come from outside yourself.
Life is about self-actualization. Everything you read and consume may inspire you, but only you can do the hard and necessary work of building strength from within.
“One who knows others is intelligent
One who knows himself is enlightened
One who conquers others is strong
One who conquers himself is all-powerful
One who approaches life with force surely gets something
One who remains content where he is surely gets everything”
— Verse 33, Tao Te Ching
We live life through our five senses. This gives us the illusion that reality is only what we can experience through our sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
We waste so much time and energy focused on other people. Are we more successful than our colleagues? Are we happier than our friends and enemies? Are we living up to our family’s expectations?
It is no coincidence that all philosophical and spiritual traditions emphasize the Ancient Greek aphorism, “know yourself”.
Without knowing ourselves, we are without roots. Without conquering ourselves, we remain insecure of others.
Sure, when we approach life with purpose, a plan, and hard work, we increase the chances of our success. But tomorrow is not guaranteed. What if the unexpected happens?
How can you plan for the unplannable?
Like Buddhism, Taoism identifies that desire is the root cause of our suffering. We are never content with what we have. Our desires pull us here and there. We are always searching for greener grass on the other side. By being controlled by our desires, we become playthings of the external world. We are never happy for long.
Learn to be content with where you are, no matter how ridiculous that sounds. You are still alive, and there is always a possibility that the future will be better. You are still alive, and there is always a possibility that the future will be worse. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?
“Seeing your own smallness is called insight
Honoring your own tenderness is called strength”
— Verse 52, Tao Te Ching
Our problems seem so pressing to us because we are the ones who live them. But the world does not revolve around us — We are not that important.
When we pump ourselves up with ego and self-importance, it takes so much energy to maintain, sustain, and portray that image of perfection.
We all fear the unknown. How exhausting is it to pretend that you are always in control?
It’s okay to acknowledge your own weaknesses. It’s okay to admit that you feel lost. As Nelson Mandela once said, “courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
Paradoxically, by recognizing and accepting your vulnerabilities, you will become stronger and more resilient.
Once we accept our insignificance and stop pretending that we’re superhuman, we develop the insight that “not knowing” is just a natural part of life.
“Within, within
This is where the world’s treasure has always been”
— Verse 62, Tao Te Ching
The Taoists advocated meditation as an exercise to perceive reality accurately, gain perspective on life, and realize that our desires thwart us from happiness and contentment. I’ve always read about the benefits of meditation, but I hated sitting still. I’ve tried and failed to meditate for years.
Since COVID-19, I’ve been meditating every day. Today is day 63.
I meditate 5 minutes when I wake up, 5 minutes before I go to bed. I sit on my bed in a comfortable position with good posture, put on a timer, and close my eyes. I slowly breathe in and out. I try to take deep breaths. I lose focus and think silly thoughts. That’s okay. I keep breathing. I get bored. I wiggle and move around. I keep breathing. Time’s up.
After I meditate, my mind gets flooded with new insights and ideas that help me tackle the challenges I face with work, relationships, and my future. I’m surprised by how obvious the ideas are. Then I realize that those solutions were inside me all along. I just never slowed down to listen.
Try and meditate today — Start simple, start small.
Remember the Taoist proverb, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
Meditation might seem useless at first, but a flower does not bloom immediately. Be consistent, make meditation a habit. You will be surprised at what you learn.
Meditation is not about emptying your mind — it’s about learning to accept and enjoy the fact that your mind, like life, will always be full of nonsense. No matter what happens in life, you can always choose to breathe in and breathe out.
With practice and consistency, you will discover the treasures within.
