Potential

Here is a mind blowing concept that I was introduced to last night . . . potential. According to the Taoist teacher that I am working with, we contain all potentials within ourselves, since we are fundamentally united with the Tao, but, during the course of a lifetime, we choose some of those potentials as the focus for our existence, an expression of the True Nature that lies within us.

Now, I am probably explaining this very badly, but, when you look at this idea and sit with it for even a few moments, it has a potential of its own - the potential to set my and your carefully ordered world on its carefully ordered derriere. The problem that I face (along with a lot of others in this society) is that I have allowed myself to be pigeon holed, placed in a box, if you will, where I am only exercising a few of the bajillions of potentials that are available to me. Part of the work that I will be doing is finding ways to take myself outside those (comfortable) boxes and seeing what potentials I would really like to emphasize in this life.

In one of those curious serendipities that tell me that I am 'on to something', my wife emailed me while I was writing this post, pointing out that there is training in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) available in the area that we want to move to summer after next. I have always been interested in pursuing an education in TCM but have succeeded in talking myself out of it since such an education is often expensive and one has to have the necessary drive to start a business once one graduates. Perhaps, it is not drive that is needed but an understanding of the flow of the Tao. Food for thought.