This is Stephen Mitchell’s version of the Tao Te Ching section nine.
Fill your bowl to the brim
And it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
And it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
And your heart will never unclench.
Care about other’s approval
And you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
It's a warning against taking on too much. “Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.”
When things seem to be coming at you from all directions; when your calendar is full; when you have multiple projects going on at once; many irons in the fire – it can be exhilarating, it can be exhausting, and it can be addicting.
We can become addicted to the rush and to the feeling of getting things done. We can think that being busy, ticking things off the to-do list, is the same as being important.
And then, when there is less to do, maybe we feel less important, so we add more things to do when they don’t really need doing. “Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.”
Chasing after money, security, and other people’s approval will never lead to peace of mind.
The only thing that really matters is living your authentic life. Stripping away all that is false, everything that doesn’t resonate with your True Self, and living the life of love in which you most feel at home.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
Let us practice doing just what needs to be done, no more and no less, and letting that be enough.
Fill your bowl to the brim
And it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
And it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
And your heart will never unclench.
Care about other’s approval
And you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
It's a warning against taking on too much. “Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.”
When things seem to be coming at you from all directions; when your calendar is full; when you have multiple projects going on at once; many irons in the fire – it can be exhilarating, it can be exhausting, and it can be addicting.
We can become addicted to the rush and to the feeling of getting things done. We can think that being busy, ticking things off the to-do list, is the same as being important.
And then, when there is less to do, maybe we feel less important, so we add more things to do when they don’t really need doing. “Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.”
Chasing after money, security, and other people’s approval will never lead to peace of mind.
The only thing that really matters is living your authentic life. Stripping away all that is false, everything that doesn’t resonate with your True Self, and living the life of love in which you most feel at home.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
Let us practice doing just what needs to be done, no more and no less, and letting that be enough.
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