Submit and transcend:
Divergence becomes patterned,
Empty becomes potential,
Used becomes renewed,
Basic becomes foundation,
Complexity becomes confusion.
The sage embraces what is rather than what should be.
We would do well to mimic this.*
~Lao Tzu
I love these shifts in how we can change our thinking and our reality.
We would indeed do well to mimic this.
*Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David (2012-12-02). Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 349-355). . Kindle Edition.
Find Your Middle Ground 
“Empty becomes potential.” Love this! Thanks, Val!
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Isn’t that a powerful shift Jill 💛
From lacking to possibility.
Thank you!
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“Empty becomes potential”. This one chimes very strongly, Val. I have attempted to write about this myself, though feel the efforts somewhat ineffectual! When the mind is freed from its neurotic and incessant collapsing and coalescing around the objects of consciousness, all that remains is potential – the vast creative potency of expansive, objectless awareness. Failed again! H ❤
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Agreed Hariod 💛
Empty usually comes from a mindset of lacking. When we shift awareness to non judging spaciousness, it becomes only potential.
Here’s a quote I found just for you 🎈
“Failure usually strikes on the cusp of success. So stay true through to the bitter end.”
Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 873-874). . Kindle Edition.
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Brilliant quote, Val. I’ve known many who’ve abandoned their spiritual search as they no longer perceived a linear path of progression, and in instead seem to themselves to have regressed – in powers of concentration, garnering insight, reversions to what were thought to have been mental states progressed away from. The Buddhist insight path of the Theravada (orthodox) tradition states that the whole path must be accomplished four times, each with an increasing degree of subtlety or fineness. It’s likened to sanding rough wood smooth – at first one uses coarse paper, then medium, etc. One has to be prepared to tolerate what may be perceived as failure in order to see that one hadn’t realised the depths (smoothness of wood) of the experience when first passing through. It’s quite amazing, and really does work that way within that system. H ❤
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This is fascinating Hariod! 💛 Thank you for sharing.
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We would indeed do well to mimic this! Thanks for sharing Val. ❤
Here's to embracing what is…
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Yes. Let’s Julie 💕
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I especially relate to:
“Complexity becomes confusion.
The sage embraces what is rather than what should be.”
Thank you for the reminders, Val.
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Thank you Russ for taking time to add to the conversation 💛
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Love this, especially “Empty becomes potential.” Great post, Val.
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Me too Carol. This is a favorite insight for me as well 💛
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Love the wisdom of Lao Tzu!
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Thanks Eliza. Me too! It’s brings me home 💛
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Love it Val. It really is the answer to all our problems. 🙂
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Or the answer to having no problems at all … 💕
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Yes exactly!
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I have a lot of Lao Tzu’s quotes. He was a brilliant man.
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Yes indeed!
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Each one of these shifts resonates, Val — thanks for sharing the Tao wisdom.
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Thank you Jet! Glad your appreciated the shifts 💛
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