Daily Affirmations + Introspections

THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

The Tao is all about peace, and yet it is not the same as pacifism. One can follow the martial path and still be perfectly in tune with the Tao. Indeed, many famous warriors from Chinese history were Tao cultivators.

These great warriors understood that the real purpose of martial arts was not to inflict damage. Rather, they wished to improve themselves, contribute to the general welfare and promote peace. It was their ideal to defeat opponents without fighting, so they would never seek out opportunities to fight. They actively managed their lives to minimize the possibility of violence.

When they had to fight, they did so with devastating effectiveness, but they felt no glory in winning because they understood the cycles of revenge and retribution. To them, the only true victory was in turning foes into friends, thereby “destroying” an enemy so completely that absolutely no…

IMPERSONAL AND PERSONAL

The Tao is impersonal because it does not care the way humans do. It nurtures and destroys all things, and then moves on without a word. It does not get angry or happy or sad. It is more like a force than a personified deity.

At the same time, the Tao is also personal. It is in every cell of your body. It is part of your heart, your brain, your bones and your muscles. The Tao flows through you like blood flowing through your veins. It is the ultimate principle that permeates everything in every layer of existence, including every aspect of you.

Your awareness is part of this totality. Your consciousness is one facet of the diamond known as universal intelligence. Whether you are able to sense your connection with the Tao or not, you will always be a part of it just as it…

I was prepping for yoga and this was the reading i stumbled upon:

ACCEPTANCE

Achieve a difficult feat today by doing something simple: accept everything in your world exactly as it is.

If this does not sound like a difficult feat, then think about all people who rail against the way things are. They complain bitterly because they want things to be different. Sometimes, they regret having done one thing or another; other times, they feel resentment against something that has been done to them. Either way, they expend tremendous emotional energy on the past, which no power in heaven or Earth can change.

In the Tao, accepting reality does not mean being complacent or suppressing one’s natural desire to make improvements. It simply means we do not waste our resources in raging against an unjust fate. Instead, we direct them into the work of creating a better reality, one…

We are all just walking each other home.

Here is a Tao of Joy reading for today. I have been journaling so much about the energy of community and collaboration. It’s so vital to our healing to come together in the presence and power of each other. I just want to say i truly am so grateful for you all. For every interaction. For every single one of you. You’ve all enriched my life so much and i learn more from you than you’ll ever know.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

The Chinese have a saying: "When three people walk together, my teacher must be among them."

This concept is in complete congruence with the Tao, because it is all about humility. Tao cultivators never place themselves above others and assume they know it all. They are always ready to listen. Their default assumption is that one can learn something new every day,…

Here is a daily dose of Tao. Happy Tuesday!

The Tao of Joy Every Day

Day 128

GRATITUDE

Life offers many opportunities for us to practice the art of gratitude. As we look around the world, we can find something for which to be grateful, no matter where we look.

The sun gives us light and warmth. You feel better just walking outside on a sunny day. The sun gives its energy to the planet, nurturing the plants and therefore all living creatures. It is easy to be grateful for the sun.