Lao-Tzu taught "I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These are your greatest treasures. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world."
So many times I hear from busy women, my inner voice included, that 'I can't slow down and rest or take some time for myself because no one else will pick up the slack or no one else will even think about doing it or I can't relax til everything is done.' Sound familiar? You bet is does. Sound very compassionate toward yourself? Not at all.
As we get busier and more stressed our body begins to respond to the pressure we are putting on it. The response is often outward manifesting itself in illness or exhaustion. Then, we stop to heal. (Hopefully). The response of our bodies is also inward, internal, as cells begin to break down, the immune system becomes dysfunctional, our heart and lungs are taxed more and the stress hormones flooding our system attack whatever gets in their way. How does doing damage to our bodies increase our ability to be available to the world and each other? It doesn't.
Just as the body is only as healthy as its individual cells, the world (our families, our colleagues, our friends, our acquaintances) is only as healthy as its individual souls. If we don't take care of our souls compassionately, the whole world suffers.
As Lao-Tzu points out bringing simplicity, patience, and compassion into our inner and outer beings will bring health to not just ourselves but those around us as well.
With the Christmas season off and running, where will you find simplicity, cultivate patience and show compassion to yourself? It might be a leap to say this but jump I will...these are the things that make for peace on earth.
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