“Don’t seek and don’t expect. Be patient and wait until your mud settles and your water is clear. Be patient and wait. Your mud will settle. Your water will clear.”
I love that quote from the Tao Te Ching. I love it because it’s simultaneously simple and bloody hard.
When things are unsettled, I crave resolution. You do, too — unless you’re a masochist. At the apex of a problem, almost any ending would be better than not knowing what the outcome might be but that’s the worst time to choose a path. If I stick with the analogy of muddy water, kicking and moving about just makes the water more opaque and lengthens the time required to clear.
It’s worth waiting – patiently or impatiently – to see what emerges from the murkiness.
If only I could do that, I would lose much stress and anxiety, I have to find ways to make this happen
Hi Karen,
I hear you. It’s not easy to sit back and observe. The natural impulse is to DO something. When things feel stressful and chaotic I find that writing helps. Try sitting down with paper – or in front of your computer – and write with no purpose. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Susan