But seeing without judgement helps your heart to heal from past pain and enables you to put down your emotional baggage.

In the spirit of the Tao, be cognizant of seeing the truth of a person first—their soul. The Tao says that if you see someone as your competition, you have already lost.

Today, see people as nothing more than the souls that they are. This will allow you to experience clear thinking in the moment.

In 2018, I read and reflected on the Tao Te Ching,and shared daily inspirations to inspire improved wellbeing. After my fifth reading, I transitioned to A Course in Miracles. Now, we continue our wellbeing journey together with ACIM in a Tao state of mind.

Today’s Tao reflection was inspired by Lesson 3 of ACIM.

Life creates balance where there is imbalance. Where there is excess, it takes away; where there is too little it gives. It happens in nature and in you. If you choose not to slow down, Life will cause you to.

Taking from others or trying to control their fate is unwise. As you take from others, you take from yourself. It is the balance occurring.

You are in a better place when you give from your storehouse of goodness. Give compassion and kindness without expectations. Because of balance, Life is sure to return it to you.

LIVING THE TAO: I used to have a supervisor who stifled my growth for his benefit. He admitted once that he put the kibosh on my promotion because he needed my expertise in his presence. In later years his supervisor put the kiboshon his career, forcing him to start over. Life will bring balance to your actions, so consider strongly what they are. Give in thought, words, deeds or objects from a generous space.

In 2018 my focus was to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. Now I continue into 2019 with my fifth reading. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Original image by Jeppe Hove Jensen.

In conflict, hold your center as your tongue.

Neutralize the potential to personally identify with the conflict by removing yourself as the focus.

Make the debated idea the focus to release the emotional suffering.

When you see the opposer of ideas as your personal enemy, you have already lost.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, I invite you to reflect on the first, second and third interpretations along with this fourth and ask, are there any shifts you are prepared to make today in relation to aligning with the art of living as shared in the Tao?

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my fourth reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Original image on Pixabay.

Enter competition with play.

Do it with the intention of building up versus tearing down.

A wise contender knows that competition serves the communal good.

A Master knows how to invoke the spirit of play so that competition uplifts everyone that is involved.

Compassion infused competition shifts both mindset and heartset, to inspire winning while empowering.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, if you are involved in a competition, shift your thoughts to how everyone can benefit, even with there still being one winner. How can you compete in a way where everyone is whole at the finish line? Answering this makes you whole as well.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Can you be tolerant like the sky? It accepts all manner of birds not rejecting any for being too small, too short, too colorful, or too anything. Can you be accepting in this way?

Can you be firm like a mountain but fluid like water—strong in your foundational beliefs yet flexible enough to allow variance?

Finally, can you be open to obstacles as opportunities, recognizing through acceptance and allowance, that challenges can be reframed for good?

With a flexible mind and a strong connection to your Source, it becomes apparent that the betterment of life for all is possible.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, consider whose idea you are rejecting because it does not align with yours then begin to ponder this: where is the seed of similarity? Once you find it, start there—the place of opportunity. Begin to cultivate a solution the connects to your commonalities.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

When we center our hearts and minds in the stream of life’s flow, we experience life with ease and grace. But many choose the path of control, opting to strive, struggle, and stress.

The path of control creates disharmony within ourselves and among our circle.

Weapons among diseases, waste amidst hunger, abundance existing with poverty—these dichotomies are the evidence of disharmony by way of control.

The path of surrender however, leads to harmony within and among us. The path of surrender offers freedom, expansion and grace.

Centering your heart and mind in the stream of life’s flow begins with your decision to do so.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, decide what you choose: striving, struggle and stress, or freedom, expansion and grace.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.

One who is advanced in understanding our purposes and interconnectivity appreciates and aligns her thoughts, words and deeds with life’s flow. All others doubt or deny such things.

Yet those weaker in understanding deem themselves as wise. They strive, never really arriving. They struggle and create conflict, both inner and outer. They trust in what is tangible and laugh at the notion that what is intangible is real.

Nevertheless, your joy in life is found through surrender. It is by way of heart-centered thoughts, words and deeds that one aligns with life’s flow and experiences the joy of living.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, reflect on your tasks. Are you creating from a heart-centered place? If not, how can you readjust? Doing so will result in increased joy.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Image from Unsplash.

Goodness cannot be dictated. It comes from the heart.

One’s sentiment of goodwill toward another is authentic only when it is generated from within.

To force one to have compassion for another by way of rules is foolish. Instead, it must be cultivated; first for the self, and then multiplied for others.

Therefore, cultivate compassion for yourself, so that through you, goodness can permeate your circle of influence.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, think of someone who irritates you and ponder the story behind their actions. What fears would drive you to similar behaviors? With that answer, place yourself in their shoes. How does it feel? Now can you better understand them? If so, respond accordingly. Show compassion genuinely from within.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Regardless of your station or the circumstance, the best results come from a softened heart.

Whether in service or in confrontation, enter the mind of others and act from the warmth of your heart. This is how you’ll be your best.

Allow life’s flow to be your guide in all situations, and life will be like play.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, bring awareness to an overly serious situation like a disagreement then ask yourself: (1) what does it feel like to be in the other person’s shoes and (2) how do I respond with a kind heart? Follow the leading of the moment. You will see the situation become lighter. You will be allowing your best self to emerge.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my second reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.

Some might argue that letting life lead is impractical and lofty. “If life leads, how do I plan to achieve?” might be the seemingly noble externally asked question, while internally, the mind is gripped by, “I don’t want to release control.” Yet with life’s flow, there is planning and achievement.

See the vision your heart offers, orchestrate how you might get there, then be flexible enough to follow the path that life puts before you.

Refrain from over complicating by clasping to your way. Hold back from the temptation of dictating how the process flows. Be gentle with yourself and others as actions unfold.

Simplicity in thoughts, patience with the process, and compassionate action: these are the keys for letting life lead. With them, living in alignment with life’s flow is made both practical and grounded.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, during your tasks, ask yourself three questions: (1) What can I release to make this situation simpler; (2) How can I demonstrate patience; and (3) In what ways can I show compassion? As you adjust your actions in response to those questions, you will create your path to letting life lead.

My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my second reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao