Outcomes Begin Internally

| The Tao Chapter 47 – My Second Interpretation |

Showing compassion does not begin with external gestures like a smile or an act of kindness. It begins internally, with your intentions—your thoughts toward another.

Recognize there is an interconnectivity between all people—call it Source Energy, Divine Light, or God within. See only that, stripping away all physical and emotional distractions so you begin to feel authentic compassion. You will also see life’s flow, the purpose of your interactions with individuals in the situations you find yourself in with them.

The more you believe your striving and outward actions control the outcome, the further away you move from the workings of life’s flow.

Wisdom tells you that your power source is internal; your outcome begins with your internal action, that is, aligning your intentions with life’s flow in all the things you do.

The flow of life exists to serve all; therefore, your internal action is the beginning of compassion.

LIVING THE TAO: Today, think of someone that gets on your nerves. See that person in your mind. See their power source as a light moving upward toward its ultimate source. Remind yourself that nothing they have done to offend you came from that light. Those things were distractions. Then see your own light moving upward toward the same source. Rest in that space until you begin to feel your heart change toward that person. See the higher selves in both of you genuinely smile at each other, and intend that your next interaction with them will be better. Watch and see that it is.

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.