The Silence Amidst the Chaos

There was a beautiful scene in "Bloodsport", the movie that made Jean-Claude Van Damme famous in 1988. It showed him in the final fight against an seemingly invincible opponent who with the help of a dirty trick temporarily blinded him. As his eye-sight left him you could see the panic in his face. But just before his opponent managed to knock him out he remembered a time in his life when he had so serve tea to his Japanese martial arts teacher blind-folded. So he suddenly figured that while he certainly was at a huge disadvantage, life had nevertheless prepared him perfectly for this situation. He focused all his energies to the point that time stood still for him, he then sensed the location of his opponent and he knocked him down with a barrage of massive kicks.

How do we deal with stressful situations? The old way of dealing with it was to instinctively shy away from the incoming heat.The way that we would suggest instead is to tackle the fear head-on: " Feel the fear and do it anyway" is the approach Susan Jeffers takes in her book. It is the right approach, and you certainly can make it a habit no matter what the situation. The one advantage that you as a Tao traveler can have over others is to know that every panic situation is just a monster of your making. Perhaps it will pass like fog, perhaps you will need to adjust to the situation. Either way, trust that the Tao will hand-deliver the solution to every problem if you are calm enough to receive Her message.

We have found that dealing with difficult situations is actually what brings out the person you were born to be. If you have been in a couple of those situations - and managed to successfully override your fears - you know exactly how to respond. You slow down and focus all your energy on the silence within. While you are collecting yourself, you can sense the stillness and the divine presence. It is like you are waiting for disturbed water to get clear. When it does, the answer presents itself.

You can see this confident and collected nature in most successful people. You can see it in every successful athlete. Observe how they collect themselves before they move, the gymnasts, the divers, the golf players; you also can also see this trait demonstrated in all good dancers, artists, musicians or great chef. They are totally connected with the divine voice within when they move. You can see the stillness and beauty emit from their actions. They move like a piece of art.

So don't mind problems, welcome them with open arms. The Tao knows exactly what you can handle and you will never be given more than that. Connect with the divine voice inside. It is time that the real you shows up and your problems will bring Her out in the open. Find the silence amidst the chaos and become the master you were born to be.

By Christian and Su Zhen