Tao Te Ching (Chapter 22)
Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused.
Therefore the wise embrace the one
And set an example to all.
Not putting on a display,
They shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
They are distinguished.
Not boasting,
They receive recognition.
Not bragging,
They never falter.
They do not quarrel,
So no one quarrels with them.
Therefore the ancients say,”Yield and overcome.”
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole,
And all things will come to you.
(By Lao Tsu, translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)
Voices in the Mind
Each personality is made up of sub-personalities. Each sub-personality has different viewpoints, opinions and goals. A person with an extremely strong ego might not notice a sub-personality’s conflicting opinion bubbling up in his or her mind via thoughts or inner voices. However, this conflicting opinion may save a trader from making a bad trade or even cause a trader to make a bad trade. So it’s important to make friends with the people who populate your mind.
The Center
“Therefore the wise embrace the one . . . . They do not quarrel, so no one quarrels with them.” A shortcut to solving the sub-personality problem is to go straight to the source. In the center of your personality lies the quiet but authoritative voice of the Self (the Tao). If you learn to recognize this deep, inner voice and follow its directions, the sub-personalities will quiet down. However, this doesn’t remove the need to explore your personality more thoroughly through Jungian work or another modality.
Yield
An effective way to navigate your mind is by yielding. Let the thoughts of the sub-personalities have their say. Don’t judge them. Let any emotionally charged thoughts pass by like the clouds in the sky. This way your thoughts can settle and your mind can quiet. Don’t fight with your thoughts; yield to them. Do your inner work. I recommend the book Working on Yourself Alone by Arnold Mindell. “Be really whole, and all things will come to you.”
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