It is inexhaustible.
It has been before the first physical being and still is now.
It is the universal energy that composes this dance called life.
It is always available to you and for you.
It is the current that carries you.
It is Life’s flow.
LIVING THE TAO: Have you ever stopped to reflect on how your life experiences build upon one another? Do that today. You will come to appreciate your experiences with the flow.
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my fifth 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 by Roland Larsson.]]>
Before healing there is hurt.
Pleasure is known in contrast to displeasure.
And things must first be small in order for them to grow.
Cease resisting the moment you do not like to hasten the moment you desire. It is unwise use of energy.
The course will be run and at the appropriate time, the transformation will become apparent.
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 by Ilona Ilyés on Pixabay.]]>
If you try to understand Life’s flow, you cannot. It is not to be predicted, but rested in.
Pay attention to the direction the wind of life is blowing. This is the direction of your flow.
Position yourself in the same direction, cooperating with its movement. It will propel you if you surrender to the direction.
Those who exert external power may not do this and create disharmony, but you can choose harmony for yourself by using your internal power—your authentic power.
All things are in a current, and disharmony is eventually harmonized with an ending.
Choose then, harmony for your life by surrendering to the flow.
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.]]>
Those who believe they have the answers cannot be taught. Those who seek for answers will teach themselves.
The wise teacher teaches their pupils to not know. This is the doorway to their learning.
The wise leader models the way of simplicity. This is the path to true self discovery.
Maintain an openness to learning so that you may grow in wisdom.
LIVING THE TAO: Today, consider something you are very familiar with doing, then assume a beginners mind. Note the details you’ve overlooked with time. What learning is being presented to you? Continue this practice daily as you dialogue with others regarding important topics that you are familiar with so that you may always be growing.
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.
]]>Stale water in a new well taints the supply and can lead to disease. Therefore, approach all experiences with a fresh spring of thoughts. The process then remains pure and promotes healthy outcomes.
The wise know to avoid the pollution of antiquated perspectives and allow the untainted well of new knowledge to spring forth.
As I read Stephen Mitchell’s translation of the Tao Te Ching daily, I reflect and document my interpretation with the intention of living the Tao.
Note: If you choose to use the link above to get a of the Tao, I will receive a small portion of the proceeds to contribute to my work. The purpose of this post is not for you to buy the Tao. That is your choice. The purpose is to share my inspiration. That is my intention.
]]>Observing objects as they are removes judgement. Calling one flower beautiful means that there must be another that is not beautiful, otherwise, how could the former receive the title?
Judgement can lead to dissatisfaction. As long as an object, situation or person does not match the desire, it becomes opposite of the desire leaving a want of the desire. The want then creates dissatisfaction with what is.
Observe and allow what is to be, without calling it–beautiful, pretty, good. All of these create dissatisfaction when they are not.
Wisdom advises to simply allow the flow of being. The object, in its being-ness, serves as it was intended. Even the same is true for you.
Objects, situations and people are ever in a state of flux. Let them be in each moment of flux without your need to attach to any moment. They will flow through time with or without your attachment, so why cling to what will change in a moment?
Flow in the moment—be present with it—and in the new moment, be present with that.
Observe without judgement and allow all things to be as they are because that’s what they’ll be with or without your attachment.
As I read Stephen Mitchell’s translation the Tao Te Ching daily, I reflect and document my interpretation with the intention of living the Tao.
]]>But while we often do our best to stay focused, resolutions don’t often pan out the way we’d like. We lose steam by the end of January, and then endure guilt and shame at having abandoned our own desires.
The problem? Resolutions are too specific. They work for short-term goals such as going for a run today, but don’t have the sustaining power you really need to keep up your motivation all year long. Resolutions also tend to focus on fixing flaws rather than addressing something deeper. Think about it, the resolution of losing weight implies you are currently overweight, the resolution of getting a better job reminds you that you’re currently miserable in the one you have, and even something like “traveling more” can trigger self-criticism at having a lack of adventure in your existing life. No wonder they don’t work, they’re nagging reminders of our shortcomings!
If resolutions haven’t proven effective for you in the past, then it’s time to try a new approach.
Set an intention, instead.
Unlike a resolution, which is a promise you make to yourself, an intention is a mindset. It’s less specific than something like exercising 3 times a week, but it’s also more connected to the core of what you really want, and therefore leaves you more open to fulfilling that in a variety of ways.
Here are examples of resolutions:
- Meditate 5 times a week for 10 minutes each
- Avoid junk food
- Reconnect with an old hobby
And here are their corresponding intentions:
- Develop a calm mind
- Live more healthfully
- Make more time for creativity and play
The difference is subtle, but it’s just enough to shift how your actions unfold.
To use the first example, developing a calm mind could certainly include meditating 5 times a week, but it also leaves you open to all sorts of possibilities that contribute to the same effect, thereby leaving you far less bored (or likely to quit trying) as the year goes on. Developing a calm mind could manifest as a class you take, spending more time in nature, reading some books on wisdom traditions, re-evaluating your relationships, etc. By not limiting yourself to one specific method, you open yourself up to a range of possibilities and increase your chances of ultimately reaching that deeper goal – sometimes through surprising ways.
Give it a try this year and see how it goes. At the very least you’ll take a break from resolutions and might discover that you don’t even miss them!
What’s your intention for the new year? Share in the comments below!
Courtesy of Integrative Nutrition
]]>It’s crazy. It makes no sense. I don’t understand it.
When you hide, cower, or make yourself small, there are some who love that. When you don’t allow yourself to be the big, bright, bold, beautiful you that you are, there are some that thrive.
But, make the decision, take the actions to burst on the scene being who you are, and those same “some” cower, as if you being you takes away from them. They’ll stand behind you and scowl. They’ll smile in your face, but plot against you behind your back. They won’t feel they’ve won until they feel they have put your light out.
It’s crazy. It makes no sense. I don’t understand it. And I don’t have to understand it.
You don’t have to understand it. Just know this: what you put out comes back to you. Your choice to put light out into the world, comes back to you as light. Your choice to put love out into the world, comes back to you as love. Everything beautiful about who you are that you choose to put out, comes back to you making you more of who you are.
So my friend, don’t fret. As it’s been said, “Don’t sweat the haters. Do you boo,” and I guarantee life will lift you higher. Make a decision and declare, “I AM bold enough to be myself” and you will always win.
You are walking on a dirt path that is speckled with gravel and bits of grass growing between rocks, the gravel and dirt. You feel secure because the ground is beneath you. Nearby you can hear the sound of water rushing down its own path.
You continue to walk down this path and you begin to notice that you can see water on either side. Then you notice a steep drop to your left and to your right. You still feel secure though because the ground is still beneath your feet.
As your walk continues, you notice what begins to seem like the end of the path. You continue to move in that direction because you know that your destination is up ahead. After more yards of walking the end has been confirmed. The very clear and obvious path does end. You approach it and wonder, “How will I reach my destination?” You continue to march forth with the question becoming louder and louder in your head.
Then you arrive. You are at the end of the the known path, but you have not yet arrived at your destination.
Now, the water that was just a faint sound earlier, is beneath you crashing violently against the rocks at the bottom this cliff. Yes, you have arrived at the cliff’s edge.
You want to continue, but you can’t. You will die. As you ponder what appears to be your only option–going back where you came from and finding another route–you feel a strong urge to keep walking. “WHAT?!” You question and exclaim. “That’s crazy talk! I can’t keep going forward. I WILL DIE!” But despite your exclamations, the urging becomes stronger by way of encouragements and signs.
Something inside of you knows that if you take the step, you will be fine. But your logical brain says no. “What now? Do I trust the extremely crazy yet compellingly safe-feeling urge, or do I go with logic?” you ask yourself.
Recently I read something that conjured up the guided image above. It was something that I’ve heard many times in various forms. It was, “I am totally confident in letting go and letting God appear as the abundant all-sufficiency in my life and affairs.” As I read those words, the one word that jumped off the page was appear. That led to a string of thoughts that went something like this,
Appear…as in show up. Let God show up…in every aspect of my life. So when I don’t allow God to appear, I am creating a blockage. Avoidance! When I avoid an aspect of my life, I am creating a block. This is why I can feel so blessed in many areas, and not so blessed in others. Oh my goodness! The areas I avoid are the ones where I am having the most difficulty. Why am I avoiding? Because I’m afraid God won’t show up. But isn’t God showing up in a bunch of other areas in my life? Yes. So you think God doesn’t have power in this area? God does. So why are you not letting God? Why are you avoiding this area? Why are you creating the block?
Why are you creating the block?
I arrived at this: it’s a simple choice. Allow God to appear as the abundant all-sufficiency in your life and affairs, or not.
If you choose to allow, your mantra is, “I AM totally confident in letting go and letting God appear in all areas of my life.”
If you can relate, please share your thoughts below.
]]>Productivity is something every top performer has mastered, and you should, too.
With so many tips on time management and productivity available on the Internet, you might feel overwhelmed by the different approaches experts preach on a daily basis.
Today, I’m going to unravel this whole mystery and share the ONLY tool you need to master productivity and get a huge amount done every day.
Are you ready?
Single-pointed focus: focusing on only one thing at a time.
You might have heard that the key to being productive and getting a lot done is multitasking.
Doing more than one thing sounds effective. Like you’ll get more done because you’re doing two things at a time instead of one, right? Wrong. What happens when you multitask is that your focus and energy are diluted and no task ever gets your full energy.
Often, you don’t finish anything completely because you’re so exhausted from spreading yourself across two (or more) projects. If you do end up finishing multiple tasks at once, it’s likely the work will be low quality – you might even have to redo it.
On the other hand, when you focus on one thing at a time until completion, your work quality will be super high and you’ll feel satisfied at the end of the day because you actually got work done – and gave it your all.
It’s the same when you’re trying to get healthy or lose weight. If you just integrate one tool at a time – like adding in one serving of green vegetables per day – until it’s second nature to you, you’ll see results. If you try to implement every health tip you’ve heard at once, you’ll likely get frustrated, binge on brownies, and give up completely.
See how single-pointed focus applies to every area of your life and is the only productivity tool you need? Experiment with it this week and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Courtesy of Integrative Nutrition.
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