TAKE CHARGE

The Tao teachings tell us that we can learn from positive people as examples and negative people as warning signs. One example of negativity in this context is the people who complain frequently.

Most of the time, they complain about others, perhaps a particular person like a neighbor, co-worker or the bass. They will tell you that it is all because of so-and-so that they feel so miserable. They are sure that if this annoying person would just stop annoying them, they could be happy.

From the perspective of the Tao, this is a mind-set that does not make sense. Why should we let other people have so much influence over us? Why give them the power to make us suffer? It makes far more sense for us to take charge of our own emotional well-being. No one else should have any control over that. We alone have the authority to decide how we should feel.

The Tao Today

When you control your own emotional states, you also control your motivation. When you control your motivation, you also control your actions. When you control your actions, you also control the direction of your destiny. Everything starts from holding on to the power to take charge.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin