Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
We’ve all heard those sayings about the KISS principle and keeping things simple. However, this message from Lao Tze reveals a power that I had not considered.
Simplicity returns you to your source. It shifts your focus to the essence or aim of your work, thoughts or actions. It guides you to the energy that creates and moves things into being.
So what two simple strategies can return us to our power source?
Gratitude and Compassion
Both ignite our joy, peace of mind, determination, confidence and all sorts of potent resources. They are like those gifts that keep on giving.
I’m reading Pam Grout’s latest book Thank And Grow Rich. Grout says she started a gratitude practice right before her super-popular, best selling E-Squared was published.
Over the last 10 months, I up-leveled my gratitude practice. This is the perfect book for me as I approach the end of the year.
Throughout the book Grout reminds readers about the power of the joy and gratitude frequency. I think of it as the “you get what you’re looking for” method. Looking for blessings and all manner of good stuff leads us to blessings and all manner of good stuff.
Use your gratitude practice to help you finish strong.
Review the goals that you set for the year.
You can divide your goals into categories such as health, business, family, spirituality, relationships, self-development, and/or finances. Then write a list of 5 – 10 things you’re grateful for related to each of your goals.
It will be easy to notice things that you accomplished. However, don’t stop here. Be sure to notice growth in yourself.
Be grateful for the fringe benefits in pursuing your goals. Record your progress in building confidence or courage or determination.
Undoubtedly, you will be aware of things that went wrong. Here’s where the second simple strategy, compassion, will become a source of renewal.
Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. This simple step can transform anxiety about errors or mistakes into energy for change.
Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. Choose five things that didn’t go exactly as you would like and list them in a column. Next to each one, in the other column, indicate how you will use these experiences to grow.
Gratitude and compassion simply return us to our power source.
If you need support, contact us. The Living Source is here to help you plug in to the power of you.
© Sandra Y. Lewis