THE WISDOM OF LAOZI (LAO TZU) AND WHAT HE'S UP TO TODAY.
LAOZI (Unknown 6th Century to 4th Century BC), also known as Lao Tzu, was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is the reputed author of Tao Te Ching, founder of philosophical Taoism and a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. I was honored when he paid me a visit even though I knew little about his teachings.
His may have been the most unusual message because it was quite short and he simply asked that I pull a handful of his most famous quotes, for each of us to ponder.
I’m learning that most very wise people say very little.
“I am, no doubt, the oldest voice you’re received. Interesting that you know nothing at all about me except that I lived hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came to teach and as an extraordinary example of sacrifice and Divine living.
“I have not returned as I was a master teacher who was given, like all of us, the thoughts to communicate to others. We received the inspiration and the words flowed. People listened to me, and I suppose I am here to bring some of my messages to today, where they will be grasped and hopefully applied. Will you do that for me?
An odd request I know, but there are several quotes I’d just like to have repeated—and you can easily find them and know. I want people to learn from less. Their thought process should take it from there. The one or two which relate, I hope will be of use today.
“Wisdom doesn’t fade with time. Pure wisdom is eternal. Laozi”
Following is a list of the quotes I was led to share. There are eight of them, so I’d suggest pausing a bit and letting each one sink in. They’re clustered into groups, so they’ll be easier to digest.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
Couldn’t help smiling at the last one. Quotes as wise as these don’t take much intellectualizing, since after reading it through—the light just goes on.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
“He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.”
And the last group before focusing a little longer on his final quote.
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
This one may be my favorite because it sums up many lives, including mine.
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
That one is all about transition and the journey. When you think about it, some people are reluctant to take the road less travelled, embrace adventure, welcome opportunity, and realize change and growth go hand in hand. Some stay stuck in one place or another because it’s comfortable or feels secure. Then, they never leave. Perhaps because they fear change and lack curiosity and blind faith—especially in themselves. Once again:
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
Following Laozi’s advice makes life an adventure! I never had a plan but always felt I was headed somewhere, I just had no idea where that somewhere was. So, I surrendered to the journey, welcomed new challenges, and always did the best I could. I was always surprised with what happened next.
I had a vision that I became aware of at age five. Well, it wasn’t a vision, it was a word. I knew I was to do something special but didn’t know how or when, so I stuffed the word ‘special’ back in my subconscious and I believe that North Star led me throughout my life.
Not surprisingly, the path from here to there wasn’t a straight line, as you all might guess, but was rather a series of zigs and zags—each one strengthening my character, teaching me valuable lessons, honing my skills or helping me mature in a way that prepared me for what would eventually come.
Little did I know that my earlier jobs as a less than mediocre secretary, a functional employee in the radio business (not a glamorous on-the-air type), a modest editor for parts of a weekly magazine, and a time-buyer then media buyer of an advertising agency and public relations person would prepare me for my own business, while still in my twenties.
I learned to master owning a business—specifically a full-service marketing communications firm, while my health deteriorated and my exposure to the nonprofit world expanded. I had three marriages (I was lousy at picking husbands), became an expert in the holistic healing process through my amazing recoveries, consulted nationally and internationally on image positioning for major corporations and then did more marketing consulting as I semi-retired. That took over fifty years.
During that time, I experienced the joy of motherhood, lost my only child to opioids, became a speaker, wrote 4-books so far, enjoyed the bliss of being a grandmother and cherished my friends. I met celebrities by the score, politicians galore and had a life in the social community. Who could have planned all that?
My life became a tapestry of experiences but had I gotten stuck on any of those plateaus, I’d never have the gifts I have today.
Now, I’m able to connect across dimensions to free spirits who are stuck, bring messages from loved ones who have passed to a handful of friends, share wisdom from the ages that legendary souls want shared, and help my son’s soul growth—just by being available. It was the zigs and zags along the way that made all that possible. What also helped was not allowing myself to be restricted by other people’s rules or expectations.
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
Can you imagine the possibilities when you simply release limitations and become open to possibilities? Although Lao Tzu said it more poetically, I believe he simply said to release our limited expectations, our useless attempts at control, and our fear of the unknown—and not be afraid to fly.
Since most of the magic happened for me in the last twenty-years of my life, I can honestly say, it’s never too late to spread your wings.