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One who knows other people has understanding. One who knows herself has clarity. One who can conquer other people is powerful. One who can conquer herself is strongest. One who realizes that she has enough possesses abundance. One who uses force must have a strong will. One who doesn't lose sight of where she is can last for a long time. If she doesn't forget that until she dies, she will have lived for a long time.   Commentary: 33 ~ Check Yourself Out -One who knows other people has understanding. -One who knows herself has clarity. It seems so easy at times to evaluate another person's actions and emotions. You might be able to look at a friend and feel like you know what it is they're doing wrong in their lives, or which course they should be taking. Occasionally, you can share that information with them and help them make better choices for themselves because you've come to an understanding of who they are. It can be much more difficult to take an honest look within yourself and make those same determinations. You might spend days, weeks and months so riveted on what's happening all around you that you don't take out any time to spend alone with yourself. In this modern world with so many distractions available, it's easy to fill up every waking hour with some sort of activity: cell phones, video rentals, the internet, television, going to the gym. And when you go to bed at night if you don't fall asleep immediately, it might seem like a strange and unusual experience to enjoy that quiet time. The only way to achieve true clarity is to take some time to listen to yourself. -One who can conquer other people is powerful. -One who can conquer herself is strongest. -One who realizes that she has enough possesses abundance. -One who uses force must have a strong will. You might spend lots of time dealing with the demands of other people: your boss, children, spouse, etc. All of them may present problems that you need to solve. How many hours of the day do you spend thinking about how you're going to deal with a cantankerous boss or an unruly child? There's a sense of accomplishment when you come up with ways to overcome those problems. But how much time do you spend thinking about the problems within you that need to be dealt with - like the spoiled child within you that's always feeling like you're not getting your own share? Most people prefer to ignore their own brooding emotions until they explode like a thunderstorm. A truly strong person doesn't try to control others, but learns more about how to deal with their own emotions. -One who doesn't lose sight of where she is can last for a long time. -If she doesn't forget that until she dies, she will have lived for a long time. People have a tendency to project themselves into the future, hoping and wishing that soon they'll accomplish what they're after. In that way, they lose sight of where they are at the moment. This promotes feelings of dissatisfaction and unfulfillment. By releasing the tension built up due to dreaming of some pie-in-the-sky ideal future, your body would naturally last longer. It's wonderful to have ambitions and goals, but it's also important to recognize your own limitations. The older you get, the more you find enjoyment in each day rather than waiting for something spectacular to happen. If you appreciate the beauty of each day, your life will feel fulfilled. Alternate translation: If you can figure out what other people’s motivations are for doing what they do, you can understand their actions better. If you can figure out what your own motivations are, everything you do gets clearer. You might feel powerful if you can control other people’s motivations. But if you can get to the root of yor own motivations, you’re even stronger. Someone who isn’t motivated by trying to get things from others realizes she already has more than she needs Someone who tries to force others to do what she wants would have to expend a lot of energy on that. If you pay attention to why you’re doing what you do, instead of trying to change other people, you’ll live much longer. Remember that and no matter how long you live, each day will be wonderful. Dao Is Open Site Map | BY: Nina | Guodian Laozi | DDJ Concordance | Comparisons | Who was Laozi | | Return Home | Laozi's Dao De Jing | Your Dao De Jing | Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) | Links | Meditation | Dao (Tao) is Open Forum | Book List | Other Stuff | |
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