In some cultures, it is generally accepted that poverty or, for example, the absence of a family is good for spiritual growth, but Taoists are sure that practice is a tool for building personal success on various fronts. Moreover, in the Chinese Taoist tradition one can find valuable advice on how to become successful.
In the Chinese tradition, success is a universal phenomenon that extends to all areas of life. For example, if a person works hard and earns well, but thereby destroys his health and social life, this cannot be considered a success. All the components that are important for him: work, family, friends, hobbies, leisure – must be in balance. It would seem logical, but how to achieve this in practice?
Formulation of the problem
We all know how to set ourselves tasks: to do this and that, preferably by a certain date. However, tasks are local actions, but a global understanding of where and why we are moving is intention.
It is formulated according to the principle “I want to be …” or “I want to be able to …”. For example: I want to be a mother. Or: I want to speak three languages. If we understand why we need something, formulating an intention is quite simple.
Intentions are not formulated according to the principle “I want to possess”. This is a subtle matter, which should eventually become dense, acquire a very real form, which means that it should initially concern subtle substances, and not the possession of a yacht and a villa in the Canary Islands.
There are people who do not have millions of accounts, but at the same time they feel rich, what they have is enough for them
This does not mean that the Taoists are against wealth, yachts and villas. But the intention “I want to be rich” and the desire “I want to have more money” are on different levels.
A rich person is not only the one who has a lot of movable and immovable property, but the one who feels his wealth, enjoys it, enjoys what he has earned, and also the one who has the opportunity to share. How many people in this world who have acquired many valuable things, but do not feel rich, because they are trying with all their might to preserve, not lose, increase values?
But there are also people who do not have millions of accounts, but at the same time feel rich, happy, they have enough of what they have.
Getting energy
After the intention is formulated, it is important to fix it on paper. It is important that this entry regularly catches the eye. For example, you can keep the note in your wallet, makeup bag, or anywhere else you check in regularly. Thus, you will subconsciously adjust the course you are going in order to achieve what you want.
In addition, the implementation of intentions requires vitality: in the Chinese tradition, they are called qi energy. Where can I get it?
The more ambitious, complex, costly your intentions, the more energy you need to implement them. For energy to come, you need to act in two directions.
1. Manage energy correctly – do not scatter yourself on many tasks that are not related to your intention.
By relaxing overstressed muscles, we release an energy resource that can be used for other purposes.
Of course, not all forces go to the implementation of the plan. Qi energy is the forces that underlie all our life activities: body heating, movement, communication, and so on. Therefore, all forces cannot be directed towards moving towards the goal, but it is also not very rational to scatter them.
One of the classic examples of energy savings is qigong practice, special relaxation exercises such as Sing Shen Juang – aimed at relieving habitual muscle clamps. By relaxing overstressed muscles, we release an energy resource that can now be used for other purposes. This approach is similar to reasonable economy: this is not stinginess, but common sense in the use of a resource.
2. Find additional sources of energy – what gives strength. Communication with family and friends, hobbies and pleasures – in the Taoist tradition, this is far from “wasting time”, but the same economically correct, justified approach. In addition, the Taoists have special breathing practices, neigong, which allow you to get additional vitality.
Track results
After completing a task, it is important to pause and evaluate the results, to spend at least a few seconds to look back and evaluate the work done.
Very often we achieve fantastic results, but we devalue them ourselves. For example, a person who wanted to learn a foreign language begins to speak it after some time, but does so with hesitation. Realizing that he does not speak perfectly, and there are still gaps in the knowledge of grammar, he is dissatisfied with his results – despite the fact that he did not speak this language at all before, but now he can express his thoughts in it and those around him will understand him.
When compiling a list of intentions, regularly look at it and mark those points that you managed to achieve. You may not notice how the changes you dreamed about have taken place in your life (the good very quickly become the norm), and the list of intentions will help you track your personal results, be proud of them and thus get motivation for further achievements.