The seasons hold wisdom if you allow them to.
Just a few months ago, I was constantly pushing.
Trying so hard to get somewhere, be somebody, and do something extraordinary.
When COVID happened, I started learning that all the things I had fought so hard for were illusions.
I also realized that, like most modern humans, I struggle to balance my impulses. Despite the realization, I remained ambitious and thought I needed to do more. Always more.
I either overworked and crashed or did too little (perhaps recovering from the over-striving) and then struggled to catch up.
Luckily, the Tao de Ching — and the principle of Yin and Yang — helps us reckon with those dueling tendencies.
You’ve probably heard of Yin and Yang before. I’m wearing a t-shirt with the little stitched black and white logo right now, and yet, until a few days ago, I didn’t even think about what the symbol represented.
I always thought of it on a surface level, a symbol of Zen philosophy, an indicator of aspirational unbotheredness — a vibe I always tried to achieve but never reached (I am bothered, more often than not).
But Yin and Yang speak to how we live our lives, whether we classify them in that way or not.
Yin and Yang are opposites yet complementary principles of Chinese Philosophy. Each side has its attributes.
Ideally, we can work with both sides without being taken over by one or the other and remain more balanced. But as with all philosophical concepts, that’s easier said than done.
So, what does this have to do with the Tao de Ching?
