Inspiration from the Tao Te Ching: Harmony
January 3, 2010
Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing your mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.
*
Have you found harmony? If so, what does it feel like? If not, what do you suppose you are missing? Are you still trying to do too much, to be too many things to too many people? Are you too busy and distracted to open your heart and nurture those who need you? When you let go of your illusion of control, harmony flows in to take its place.
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Lisis,
This idea of doing too much…something that I can relate to. I have, too often, been focused way too much of saying “yes” when I should in fact say no. And this has been in all aspects of my life – professional and personal. This was really brought to my attention at a recent leadership workshop I was at. And since then, I have really focused on doing those things that are much more deeply important to me – and saying “no” to others. And I think it plays well along the lines of – when we overextend ourselves, we’re not really giving all that we can to any of those things – and they all began to feel more like dreaded tasks instead of things which touch us deeply. As I work at getting to a place of connection with that which matters – “harmony” is a wonderful word for that place. Harmony…a great place to be…
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hey, Lance!
As soon as I read this I tought about you, since Harmony is your version of Balance (mine too, really). You are absolutely right, though. When we promise too much to too many we end up not being able to really focus on anything well. We end up under-delivering and feeling awful about ourselves. Learning to say No is a big part of being able to find a balanced, harmonious state.
Thanks for being here to start of my day, Lance!
I think these ideas sound nice, but what about guys like Gary Vaynerchuk who seem to be on all the time and reach high degrees of success? Are they on the wrong path? Isn’t it those individuals who are often full on and workaholics that move humanity along? I am grateful for histories workaholics who have made our lives more comfortable.
Gordie´s last blog ..Look, Mom! My Blog’s Sprouting Pubes!
Hey, Gordie!
I think you’ll find there isn’t really a contradiction between what you are saying and the passage. Even people who do a WHOLE lot have to find ways to re-center themselves, to find their own personal harmony.
Gary V. actually strikes me as a very nurturing and harmonious guy. He’s got a lot of energy, and throws in an expletive or two, but he has his priorities straight (family and health first), and genuinely tries to add value and help others. He works on projects of HIS choosing and has no trouble saying No to anything that doesn’t appeal to him.
Living in Harmony doesn’t mean “doing nothing”. Harmony is a state of being that you carry with you no matter where you go or what you are doing. As long as you are working much, or doing much, for the right reasons, you’ll have no trouble maintaining harmony in your life.
Nice response, Lisis. You are so mature.
Gordie´s last blog ..Interview With Captain Australia.
Haha! I don’t know if “mature” is the right word to describe me, but I’ll take it!
I give to much others and not enough to myself for sure. often do things for some type of approval or acceptance. my mind is always full and worried and my heart often remains closed. I guess I do not have harmony, but I am in search to find it.
Jen´s last blog ..For every storm a rainbow… a toast to the new year!
Hi, Jen… I believe you are well on your way. Being aware of the parts of you that feel out of synch is a very important first step. Some people go through life unhappy, unsatisfied, stressed out, and miserable, but never even stop to think about what they could change to improve their situation.
You already have everything you need to be happy and at peace. The stuff that keeps you from it is mere distraction that needs to be stripped away one layer at a time. You will get there… I have no doubt.
Harmony is such a wonderful word for a soaringly higher state of being according to me. To me Harmony is when your mind,body, heart and soul all are in complete sync with each other and with others hearts and souls too….
Well that isnt always easy…but it is attainable.
Harmonious living is certainly a goal…
For me its mostly my body thats always out of sync….I want to do so so much…and feel for others so so much…but my aging mummy body gives way….Have to work on stamina now
Much Love,
Z~
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Miracle Of Books{Inspiration from Edward Morgan}
Z, you strike me as a very harmonious person. And, I have to say, it’s even more difficult to remain in a state of harmony when we have little tykes with a mind of their own running around our houses. They don’t always fit so nicely into our carefully crafted plans and goals.
You are perfect, just as you are, my dear!
I know us moms have it harder eh…but so worth it none the less
By the by…minds of their own is understating it a bit…my little one is now starting to chose her own clothes…I end up cleaning the wardrobe 10 times a day…i tell you harmony in between wardrobe messes….i have gotta become super woman or maybe a stepford wife to keep everything in perfect harmony …;)
Hey Lisis,
Harmony = happiness to me, or at least, I feel harmonious when I’m happy (or is it happy when I’m harmonious?). I think I left that out in the post I sent you, but when I’m feeling my best, I feel in tune with the universe, as woo-woo as that sounds. Just… calm, peaceful, and I feel like I’m always acting through my own intentions.
Harmony feels like this warm, fuzzy feeling inside and everything moves in slow motion, I guess. Like underwater. It’s smooth and fulfilling.
As you can tell, it’s hard to explain for someone who hasn’t experienced it.
Brett – DareToExpress.com´s last blog ..A Shot of Inspiration for 2010
That’s exactly right, Brett. Harmony feels like you are flowing with the current (of the Universe) instead of against it. Whether you fit in a bunch of activities, or sit on a boulder in silent meditation is not really relevant. When you are in harmony with yourself and everything around you, happiness is an inevitable byproduct.
Underwater, woo-woo, fuzzy feelings, huh? …I love it!
Hi Lisis, all the decisions I have been making lately have led to more harmony. Like Lance, I have to constantly be aware of my yeses. As my stress increases, I rapidly lose harmony. For me, in addition to every thing your commenters have said already, I need to watch both nutrition and sleep. If I don’t refuel regularly, hypoglycemia kicks in and I can feel anxiety take over. Same thing when I don’t listen to “i’m tired”, I need to respond and sleep whether it is going to bed earlier or taking a quick nap. I regularly am wide awake between 4am and 5am and so I stop fighting that and use that time to write blog posts because my mind is more focused then. My goal in 2010 is to work toward harmony. Thank you for the reminder!
Julie Walraven´s last blog ..The Christmas Roast – Prime Rib
Hey, Julie! That’s a very valid point. It’s so important for us to learn to listen to our bodies, as they always know when we need a little more or a little less of something. I’ve had days when I wake up around 3 or 4 am and make myself go back to sleep because it just seems an ungodly hour to wake up. But the few times when I have just gone ahead and gotten out of bed, I end up with a super productive few hours. It’s like my body says, “Listen to me. Right now… this very minute is the perfect time for you to work on your special project.” I need to get better about noticing those signs.
Lisis,,
I absolutely love the Tao Te Ching. I even thought getting a tattoo of the Chinese Symbol. In my mind harmony is something that feels really effortless. It’s as if if you’ve achieved states of flow that can’t be interrupted and nothing seems to get in the way. It’s about making adjustments and adapting to conditions, but none of it seems difficult or challenging. It just is and you are completely ok with it.
Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..A Long Drawn Out Look Back at 2009: Part II
That’s beautiful, Srini! I bet you have had some seriously harmonious moments when you are out surfing, or even just sitting on the beach, staring out over the waves.
It is absolutely about finding, and going with your natural flow.
Hi Lisis,
I love the Tao Te Ching and it is always cool to see the different interpretations. Which version did you use for this quote?
In my mind, harmony means everything has to be in tune with your own version of truth. Recently, I have come to realize that the one area in my life where I am lacking harmony is where I live and the lack of finding work that really resonates with who I am. This has been a huge surprise to me since I am a happy person.
Being unemployed for the last four months has been a blessing because it has made me realize that my outer reality (meaning the community and town we live in) does not match my inner world (meaning my personal life and belief system). So we are working on changing that so that everything is in sync. I have to tell you, it is a wonderful place to be.
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Nadia : I just read your definition of Harmony. At first, I loved it. But then I asked, could one achieve harmony if one’s “own version of truth” included limiting beliefs (e.g. homophobia or racism)? And depending upon the strength of one’s ego, this definition could be quite dangerous.
Or have I misinterpreted your meaning?
Nelia´s last blog ..Say "I Don’t."
Hi Nelia,
I see what you are saying but I was referring to it in a different sense. Any limiting thoughts/beliefs are not truth and usually are based on judgment which is not a form of truth.
What I meant was more like if someone is artistic and they are working as a stock broker, that is not harmony. A person has to accept who they are in order to be in harmony. A square peg cannot be jammed into a circular space. So I did not mean “truth” in a literal sense but more from a spiritual sense. Does that clarify it?
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Hmmm. Not exactly. This “version of truth” concept is a bit slippery for me. But I do get that I completely missed your original intent. Thanks for making a second attempt to help me understand!
Nelia´s last blog ..Say "I Don’t."
You know, Nadia… now that I think about it, I remember when you first told me you where you live. I thought it seemed out of synch with your personality, but of course that was just based on my limited knowledge of the area.
When I think of you in India, that instantly makes sense. Or even someplace in the States, but with a groovy flow… like Austin or Vermont. I think we may be heading to Austin again for our next move. Maybe we both will end up in the same place? You would LOVE it there.
Hi Lisis,
I love it! You are not the first person to say that to me. Actually, whenever I meet people, they ask me if I am from California. Another sign from the Universe! LOL
It would be so much better to be in a place that has a groovy flow. That would be perfect and that is what we are working towards now. And that would be so cool if we end up in the same place!
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
I like the philosophy of balance and harmony. I find that it is a constant process of awareness of recentering. That’s why I love reading these types of posts–they remind me to check myself. Hope you have a wonderful 2010 and I look forward to reading your future posts.
lena´s last blog ..Emotional Hygiene–Check Yourself
Hi, Lena! You’re right about that. I’m the same way… whenever I see this type of passage, or post, it is like a catalyst to put me back in the right frame of mind, especially if my mind has been drifting lately.
Have a wonderful 2010!
Hi Lisis,
Great to be here.
For me, harmony is.
Harmony is that split second of eternity when the in-breath presses up against the out-breath;
Harmony is when the meaning of life rests gracefully on the meaning of death;
Harmony is when my joy in completely inhabiting this moment is enough;
Harmony is when who I am meets what I do;
Harmony is when my actions catch-up with my words;
Harmony is the sweet-spot from which I can truly and fully give to others without conditions;
Harmony is when the seeker at last meets the finder;
Harmony is when for every breath we draw in, we experience life’s miracle force breathing us out.
Harmony is when me becomes we.
Happy New Year,
Robin
Robin Dickinson´s last blog ..How to instantly upgrade yourself to a best-ever you
Hey, Robin! It’s always great to see you, and this time is no exception. I love your positive outlook on life.
This is an awesome description of Harmony. Two parts specifically really struck a chord with me: “when who I am meets what I do,” and “when ME becomes WE.” Both of these are precisely what is making me feel harmonious these days.
Happy New Year, and thank you for being here!
Wow. We are on the exact same wavelength today. I tackled this issue today, but coming from the standpoint of being under-committed.
What’s interesting is that I didn’t think once in terms of being harmonious. I thought only in terms of being effective. To be honest, I don’t know that I care about harmony. What the hell is harmony? But I do care about making a meaningful contribution. Do you think being “in harmony” increases our capacity to contribute? Or do harmonious folks even care about making a contribution? After all, if all in the world is in perfect balance, why contribute anything at all and potentially throw it off balance?
It’s too late to ban me, Lisis. You’ve already claimed me as your virtual sister!
Nelia´s last blog ..The Deciding Factor
My darling Nelia, I would never ban you from any conversation here. I look forward to the dash of cayenne you always add to our little concoctions.
I don’t know whether you need to care about harmony, but I do think that it is when you feel harmonious that you are more likely to contribute to the world around you. When we are out of synch, and in distress, we tend to focus on our own issues and dramas. When we are balanced and harmonious, our personal “stuff” loses its hold on us, and we turn outward to share that serenity.
Having said that, I have also found that if your life is in utter chaos, sometimes a shortcut to serenity and harmony is to turn outward and focus on helping others instead.
So, I guess it can go either way. Harmonious people naturally contribute. Those who seek harmony can find it by contributing. Either way, we all win when we focus on helping others.
Thanks for being here, Beautiful!
Hmmmmm. I’ll need to give this some thought. Does harmony inspire me to greater contribution? Or do I become content and complacent? And would I miss discord? And all of the excitement and challenge it brings?
Thanks for sharing this inspiration, I’m off to ponder…
Nelia´s last blog ..Say "I Don’t."
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Hi there,
A first time visitor, and a new blogger in a similar niche. Enjoyed the excerpt here, and enjoying the harmony here and now.
I put together a video from the Tao Te Ching a few days ago, perhaps you would enjoy it. If so, I’d love some feedback. http://perszenal.com/taolessons/ Looking forward to exploring more here, Namaste.
-Andrew
Andrew @ Perszenal´s last blog ..Ten Habits to Bring Positive Energy to 2010
Hey, Andrew! Welcome to Q4B and also to the blogging world. I love your idea of making videos of some of the teachings from several sacred texts. I really enjoyed the Tao one and would love to see the Bhagavad Gita one. Thanks for your comment, and for sharing the video with us!
“Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.”
Yes, that’s it. At least to me, that seems like the key to both peace and harmony. You have to accept the world as it is. You have to accept your life as it is, and you have to accept yourself the way you are. Not that there’s never anything to change, or that you shouldn’t want to change, it’s just that you have to stop fighting for the change and allow it to come at it’s pace.
Be at peace, calm. Let the energy flow around you, pass through you. Accept life for what it is, and peace and harmony come naturally as s result. There’s a fine line between “giving up” and surrendering. Walking that line is the path to harmony.
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..At Last, Me Again.
That’s exactly right, Jay. I think a big part of finding harmony has to do with learning how to accept and embrace contradictions. Accept your life, and work to improve it. Surrender to the flow, but never give up. Cultivate your individuality, while understanding that we are all one. Clinging to one extreme or another usually leads us down the wrong path.
In other news, I’m thrilled to see you have a new post up. I’ll be heading over there as soon as I’m done here.
My life is very far out of balance. My health is awful, and the ratio of solitude and social life is way unbalanced. On top of that, I just can’t accept that loved ones die.
I lost two furry loved ones (dogs) who lived with me for 16 years. I can’t get over the pain, shock and loss, the permanence of it. I have no faith that I’ll see them again. I can’t understand it, I don’t find Western or Eastern religions comforting about death, and it’s just taken all the stuffing out of me, even eighteen months later.
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on Snowstorm! by Mama Zen
Hey, Dot… I’m really sorry about your doggies. I had a cat who was with me for about 17 years, and he passed away last month. It was SO awful to part with such an unconditionally loving little soul. There’s no easy way to handle that kind of loss… or any loss, really. And yet, as Robin hinted, the meaning of life is tied so closely to the inevitability of death. Learning to come to terms with death will go a long way towards helping you achieve harmony and balance.
As for health and solitude… well those two we have a little more input on. We can work towards being as healthy as we can be, and we try our best to cultivate the kinds of relationships we seek. I’m not saying either of these is easy, but they are at least areas where we can take some action.
I feel certain that you will be able to find harmony, Dot… I really do.
I love your reference to a quote by “Robin” in one of your comments above (that the meaning of life is tied so closely to the inevitability of death).
I am hearing it for the first time… it resonates with me… especially that I am currently writing an article about something like that… i guess this is a sign that i should hit the “publish” button.
Thanks for sharing the wisdom.
Christopher´s last blog ..2010 – Its Ok to Intend Something
Oh, that whole comment by Robin was brilliant. I could really relate to so many parts of it. But I believe you are right… it’s a sign. You should definitely hit “publish”!
That’s interesting, you say letting go of the illusion of control, surrender, leads to harmony. I used a video bit from Adyashanti in which he essentially says the same thing.
Where there isn’t harmony, it is always because we are resisting something. This has been my experience, that it’s always a matter of letting go. It’s not always easy to let go, because sometimes we don’t even know that we’re resisting.
It’s a tough thing for most of us. We can remain aware, and we can continue letting go. We can be sure that when courage is needed, it shows up.
Thanks, a lot to consider here.
Kaushik´s last blog ..Dark Night of the Soul
Lisis,
Thanks for your thought provoking posts. For me harmony is total acceptance and no judgement.
Boris´s last blog ..New safety rules after Flight 253
Finding harmony in this life is not an easy task. With so much noise both external and internal, the experience of harmony is hard to grasp. The first sentence of the poem says it all: Embracing the way, you become embraced. Perhaps this is the first step we should make.
Hey, Walter! Quieting the noise is key. There is so much busyiness, and chaos, and distraction, and avoidance, and denial… just being willing to put it all aside to find harmony, embracing the way, is an excellent first step. We’ve all got to start somewhere, right?
A great posting to be sure! I think that if anyone has ever really gotten it “right”, the “it” being the art of living, it would have to be Lau Tzu, or however we spell it.
Harmony, to me, is nothingness, yet it is everything. It is beyond description. It…just…is. It is simply being.