Our final, and possibly biggest, philosophy to live by comes from the Asian continent. Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that teaches how to exist in harmony with the natural laws of our universe.
Tao literally means “way”. It is also translated to mean ‘the path of all life.’ I recently read this passage on a menu in the Tao Chinese restaurant in St. Lucia:
Out of the small, arises the great
Out of the nothingness, flows all that is to be
Out of humility, emerges power
Out of emptiness, evolves fulfillment
Out of discord, comes harmony
Out of want for nothing, comes peace.
Oh, that we can seek that kind of balance in our lives. As you begin again, and face the new year, what do you choose to focus on? What end result do you envision for the first quarter of 2023, and the next? Where are you going and who do you need to be to get there?
Take some time to really ponder which “Tao” (read path) will be yours. Things will go wrong – be prepared. And there are so many distractions – will you fall into one of their deep holes? Remember that you can begin again any time you choose to do so. That’s a part of the Tao philosophy too. The Way is an invitation to actively live each day to the fullest.
Imagine choosing to live ‘the Tao’ every day. Look at the natural order of the Universe – we have much to learn from how it systematically unfolds with such purpose and achievement.
The philosophies we have looked at over the past three weeks have much to offer. Which one(s) will you decide to commit to? Pamoja (togetherness); Hygge (well-being) and Tao (the way of balance and harmony) each offer a unique way forward.
Tao (Pamoja and Hygge) your way forward ~ Happy 2023!
