Unshakable Resolve

In this week's Journal we tap into our spiritual resolve, embrace our uniqueness and explore living in the 'Now'. Finally tuning ourselves into what we listen to.

“In the quiet truth of this moment, we remember: unshakable resolve is not loud or rigid, but gentle and unwavering, the soft strength that rises when we move in harmony with the Tao and trust our Shen to guide the way.”

Have you ever found yourself torn between pushing forward and the thought of letting go, holding you back? Between the quiet inner voice nudging you forward and the louder Inner Child badgering you with fear, shame, or doubt? Do you ever ask yourself, “Am I being determined or just stubborn? Am I wisely persistent or recklessly refusing to quit?” These are not just passing questions. They are the thresholds of deep spiritual learning and transformation.

In this journal post, ‘Unshakable Resolve’, we will explore the sacred difference between authentic determination and the illusion of control our Inner Child often demands. We will unpack how authentic resolve, rooted in honesty, truth, and the graceful flow of wu wei, differs from emotional persistence driven by unresolved beliefs and fear of failure. We’ll also examine how real perseverance doesn’t stem from emotional bravado, but relatively quiet consistency and alignment with our Shen.

Together, we’ll see that being determined in the right areas isn’t about being unbreakable, but about being courageously fluid, deeply aligned, and spiritually anchored because strength doesn’t shout. It listens. It waits. It moves in harmony with the Tao.

The Misunderstood Power of Persistence

Too often, we mistake emotional resilience for spiritual strength. Our Inner Child nags us with messages like “don’t be weak,” “don’t quit,” or “keep going or you’ll be a failure.” These narratives lack wisdom; they are designed to prevent you from ever succeeding. They are echoes of childhood lessons where worth was linked to achievement and approval, and the finish line is always out of reach.

The Tao teaches us a different path: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” This simple truth (Tao Te Ching, Verse 29) reminds us that alignment, not urgency, creates actual progress. The oak tree doesn’t rush to become a forest, yet its growth is unstoppable. We, too, must learn to distinguish between the natural rhythm of development and the panicked striving of our Inner Child.

In our previous Journal, From Fear to Flow – Our Inner Child’s Journey, we wrote, “Our strength comes not from imposing our will on reality but from aligning with its flow and celebrating the resulting graceful and elegant Oneness.” It is this quiet, unwavering strength, an unshakable resolve rooted in the flow of wu wei, that we must now explore.

When our Inner Child is Steering

Our Inner Child often equates stopping with failure. It fears being seen as inadequate or incapable. But here’s the truth: Stopping something that no longer aligns with our values is not quitting. It’s choosing authenticity. The I Ching reminds us in Hexagram 32: “Perseverance furthers, but only when it arises from truth.” Not from guilt. Not from shame. Not from fear. When we feel pressured to keep going “just because,” we must pause and ask, “Do truth and integrity drive this, or is my Inner Child demanding certainty and reassurance?”

This childlike determination might seem like strength, but it’s rooted in insecurity. Steadfast resolve, in contrast, flows gently but firmly from our Shen, the unshakable part of us that knows we are enough just as we are. Our Inner Child clings to its red-light feelings not because it enjoys suffering, but because letting go would mean admitting something terrifying: that it has been wrong.

To acknowledge this would force it to confront the very things it avoids the most: Criticism, Comparison, and being Judged (CCJ). In its world, being wrong means being worthless. So instead of changing, our Inner Child doubles down. It badgers us into keeping a belief we already know doesn’t work. It pressures others to conform to its old script. It attempts to bend reality with misaligned and misguided justifications, making its version of the truth more believable and acceptable.

This is where the paradox of resistance lies. Our Inner Child is not just stubborn; it believes that change will expose its imperfections, therefore leaving itself open to CCJ. It considers that admitting fault means being condemned. So, it becomes relentlessly determined, but in all the wrong areas. It is not guided by wisdom or openness, but by a desperate need to avoid shame or ridicule. It would rather suffer in the familiar than risk vulnerability.

However, this is precisely why the Tao teaches us to cultivate softness over rigidity. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us in Verse 76: “The hard and rigid will be broken. The soft and yielding will overcome.” Our Inner Child, in its stubbornness, is like a brittle branch; it cracks under the pressure of life’s inevitable winds. But when we connect to our Shen, we become like bamboo: strong yet flexible, rooted yet responsive.

We must guide our Inner Child not with lectures or punishments, but with gentleness. If we could only trust that we will not criticise and accept it for being wrong, we could let go of the past. If it knew we would not hold it to ransom with regret, it might soften. It might listen. It might learn.

This is the gateway to our wu wei flow. The moment we stop trying to force our Inner Child to change through fear or shame, and instead invite it to grow through compassion and clarity, we align with the Tao. We stop paddling upstream and begin floating with the current. Misaligned determination is not a virtue; it is emotional stubbornness disguised as strength. Steadfast perseverance emerges from Shen, not as a rigid push, but as a quiet return.

So, we ask our Inner Child, gently: “What if being wrong doesn’t make you bad? What if it just means you're learning?” In this space of unconditional compassion, we allow change to arise naturally, not through force, but through the soft power of truth, honesty, and integrity – ‘The Power of Three’. This is how we return to harmony. This is how we move, again, in wu wei.

The Spirit of Gentle Persistence

Taoist wisdom teaches us that determination aligned with our Shen does not rely on drama or extremes. Instead, it reflects a quiet consistency. We keep going, not because we are afraid to stop, but because it aligns with who we are. We rise again, not to prove something, but because our intention (Yi) guides us back to our path with honesty and grace.

We once affirmed in our From Trauma to Tranquillity journal post, “In the uninvited dance of life, we step into our power. Together, we transform chaos into harmony, embracing each moment with courage and grace.” This same courage guides us in our perseverance. Not a forceful grip, but an open hand, trusting the rhythm of the Tao.

Being determined doesn’t mean never faltering. It means choosing to return. Again and again. To the truth. To balance. To the path of effortless effort. This is the heart and spirit of wu wei.

Setting Boundaries with Determination

Sometimes, determination means saying “no”. Saying no to chaos. No to being pulled out of alignment. No to old scripts written by our Inner Child, who believes value is earned through exhaustion and perfection.

In setting boundaries, we honour our Shen. We do not punish or reject others for pushing our limits. Instead, we stand firm in our spiritual truth, rooted in calm integrity. From our journal post teaching in Turning Negatives into Positives, we are reminded that even our language reflects this: words like “but” reveal internal doubt planted by our Inner Child. When we affirm with clarity, “I choose alignment,” we no longer need justification.

The Tao encourages this gentle fortitude. As seen in the I Ching’s wisdom: “Even in hardship, those aligned with the Tao bend, but do not break.” Hexagram 43 teaches us that decisive action arises not from force, but from clarity of purpose. It’s not about making emotional noise; it’s about being clear.

Your Worth Is Not Measured By Outcome

Let us not forget the most profound truth: our worth is not tied to results. We are already enough. This belief is radical in a world that glorifies hustle and celebrates results over resilience. Yet Taoist wisdom, again and again, pulls us back to this centre.

In Awakening to Your Inner Greatness, we understood, “Greatness is not a pursuit but a way of remembering who you have always been: worthy, valuable, and unique.” Our determination must spring from this soil. If we persevere from a place of love and truth, we are already succeeding. Every step becomes a return to wholeness, not a frantic escape from inadequacy.

Release the need to prove. Release the CCJ, Criticising, Comparing, and being Judgmental. These are the tools of our Inner Child’s misguided need to control, not the instruments of our Shen’s wisdom.

Returning to Alignment with Every Step

So, what does ‘Unshakable Resolve’ really look like? It looks like falling and rising again, not with shame, but with curiosity and even stronger. It looks like asking hard questions, not to criticise, but to understand. It looks like choosing one small, aligned step each day, not to control the outcome, but to honour our Shen. It looks like resting when needed, speaking up with kindness, letting go of what no longer serves us, and holding fast to what nurtures our Shen spirituality.

We honour our Shen not by doing everything perfectly, but by choosing authenticity over fear, honesty over perfection, and alignment over performance. Let us now walk forward not with clenched fists, but with open hands, minds and hearts. With an ‘Unshakable Resolve’ rooted not in desperation, but in divine rhythm. With every breath, we release old narratives and step into the flow of who we are meant to be.

A Final Call to Authentic Action

Let this Journal post be a turning point. Not a dramatic leap, but a quiet shift. A breath. A return. Choose one thing today, not big, not bold, but authentic. A small act that reflects your Shen. Maybe it’s pausing before reacting. Perhaps it’s walking away from something that drains you. Maybe it’s speaking a truth you've long hidden. Maybe, just maybe, it is not criticising yourself. Try these not for applause, not for assurance, but because they align with and celebrate your authentic and spiritual worth and value. Let go of the illusion that you must be perfect to be worthy. You are already unquestionably worthy.

As we conclude ‘Unshakable Resolve’, let’s remember: persistence is not about pushing harder. It is about aligning deeper. Every day, we are given the chance to choose again. Not from fear, but from truth. Not from comparison, but from authenticity. Let us walk in step with the Tao, guided by our inner truth and quiet determination.

Affirm now: “I choose the path of alignment. I release CCJ and walk gently but firmly with an unshakable resolve rooted in my Shen.” And so, we move, step by step, breath by breath, unfolding not into what we should be, but into who we already are.

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Have you ever questioned what it truly means to be ahead in life, or wondered if the relentless drive to become “better” is guiding you forward, or quietly pulling you away from your truth? Have you caught yourself measuring your worth by how far along you seem compared to others, or feeling behind in an invisible race no one fully understands?

This journal post, ‘Sacred Ordinary’, is a gentle yet profound invitation to pause. To step off the carousel of Criticism, Comparison, and being Judgmental (CCJ), and rediscover the quiet power of your Shen. This unshakable inner truth has never needed improvement; it just needs recognition.

Together, we will examine the deeply rooted belief that we must be special to be worthy and gently explore the beauty of releasing that illusion. This is not about resignation. It is not about giving up on growth or our uniqueness. It is the exact opposite. It is about learning to grow from alignment, not from anxiety. From wholeness, not from a wound, but from your spiritual centre, Shen.

This is the path of the Tao. The way of sacred ordinariness is where you will discover your uniqueness, where there is no hierarchical ladder to be judged against, and nothing needs to be proved, and everything unfolds in its own time.

The Unspoken Hunger: To Be Seen as Special

The fantasy of being special and slightly superior starts innocently. One day, we hear a quiet voice whisper, “I should be further along by now.” “They’re doing better than me!” It seems harmless enough. But this seed, left unchecked, grows into a thorny bramble of self-doubt, Criticism, Comparison, and being Judgmental, CCJ, and a tangled belief that we are behind, unworthy, or somehow not enough.

What makes this illusion so quietly seductive is that, from the perspective of our Inner Child, it often masquerades as motivation. To strive to be better, to be the smartest, the most spiritual, the most successful, seems like a noble pursuit. But underneath this drive lies a fragile bargain: “If I am better, I will be safe, and never criticised”. This belief is not born from arrogance, but from a perceived wounded innocence that once equated love with performance and protection with perfection. In the mind of our Inner Child, being “better” becomes a kind of shield and a goal to be achieved. If I am praised, I will not be criticised. If I am applauded, I will not be judged. If I am special, I will not be abandoned.

It is like a young seedling twisting itself toward the sun, not out of natural growth, but in fear of the shadow. The striving is not for expansion, but for avoidance. Yet in Taoism, we know that ‘true strength lies not in reaching, but in rooting’. A tree does not rush to outgrow its neighbour to avoid the wind; it simply deepens into the earth, trusting in its place and timing. In contrast, when we grow from fear, when our drive is shaped by the avoidance of emotions such as shame or the need to escape comparison, we distort our nature. We bend toward the unnatural, away from alignment, and unknowingly sever our connection to Shen.

This is the trap of sacred ambition warped by the fear of being less. Our Inner Child, believing it must compete for love, tries to outrun its wrongly perceived vulnerability. But the Tao whispers another way: to stop running, to stop reaching, and to return to the stillness where we were always enough. Not better. Not behind. Simply present. And whole.

If we measure our lives through comparisons, such as careers, relationships, or spiritual progress, as if life were a race, we will always be disappointed because, for our Inner Child, there is no finish line, only continuous striving to be the best. However, Taoism gently reminds us: “The authentic person does not compete, yet all compete to be with them” (I Ching, Hexagram 58). This does not refer to worldly superiority but to magnetic authenticity, the quiet power of someone who has let go of the need to strive.

That voice inside us, the one that urges us to be ahead, is not our Shen. It is our Inner Child. That controlling, needy part of us who, long ago, learned that love came with conditions: be smart, be polite, be perfect, be special. And so, we perform. We excel. We exhaust ourselves. But what if none of that was ever required?

The Illusion of Being Behind

There is no timetable in the Tao. No calendar or balance sheets of worthiness. The idea that we are behind in life only exists when we compare and accept someone else’s timeline as truth. But what if the path we are walking was never meant to be measured, only experienced?

The Tao Te Ching begins, “The Tao is everything and nothing. It comes from emptiness, yet it fills the cosmos.” (Verse 1). In our striving to become somebody, we clutter that sacred emptiness. We fill it with masks, performances, and roles. We believe we must shine to be seen. But our authentic spiritual light needs no spotlight. It simply is; it is our birthright.

To become nobody in the eyes of the world is to become everything in the eyes of the Tao. That is the paradox. And that is the liberation.

Redefining Better: From Aspiration to Alignment

When we ask ourselves, “What does being better even mean?”, we often find we’ve never defined it for ourselves. Instead, we’ve absorbed it, borrowed from others’ standards of beauty, success, intelligence, or perfection. But the Tao does not compare. It flows.

The wisdom of wu wei, effortless effort, teaches us that actual growth begins in stillness. We do not evolve by force, but by revealing. The more we try to sculpt a “better” self, the more we lose touch with the truth already within us.

When we chase growth through Criticism, Comparison, and Judgment (CCJ), we’re not growing. We’re running. We become the donkey forever chasing the carrot. But the cost of this endless striving is high: it disrupts our Qi, erodes our joy, and convinces us we are never enough. The Tao of real growth asks something different: “Can I honour who I am right now, even as I move towards my potential?”

Accountability: The Bridge Between Illusion and Truth

Spiritual maturity begins with radical accountability, not only for what we do, but for what we believe and why we believe it. Beliefs are not always facts. They are choices, often inherited or absorbed when we were too young to question them. Yet they shape the way we move, love, and live. Some beliefs uplift us. Others quietly imprison us. And one of the most compassionate acts of awakening is to pause and ask: “Is this belief aligned with my truth, or with my fear?”

This is where we practise what we call the ‘Shen Test’. It’s a simple but powerful tool of inner clarity. Ask yourself: “Would I teach this belief to a beloved physical child?” Would I tell them they must be the best at everything or risk being forgotten? That they must earn love by performing, pleasing, or competing? Does their worth depend on likes, approval, or applause? Is comparison a necessary motivator they should follow, or should social media be their compass?

If the answer is no, then the belief is not true. It is a fantasy. It is the misaligned voice of your Inner Child, still trying to survive a world that once made love conditional. And in wu wei, we do not shame that voice; we stop letting it lead.

Accountability is not harsh. It is a sacred return. It says: “I am ready to stop outsourcing truth. I will no longer let fear dictate my actions. I will listen, instead, to the soft wisdom of my Shen, my inner knowing, my spirit, my unshakable essence.” When we hold our beliefs to this standard, we begin to gently dismantle the inherited illusions and replant our reality in the rich soil of truth. Like water finding its level, we start to live in integrity, not as an effort, but as a natural alignment with who we’ve always been.

The ‘Golden Thread Process’ invites us to follow each red-light emotion, anxiety, shame, anger, back to the belief that created it. We trace it gently, like a thread through a darkened maze, until we find the origin: “If I’m not special, I’ll be forgotten,” or “If I’m not ahead, I’ll be left behind.”

These are not facts. They are echoes. Beliefs once formed in the innocence of survival. But we are no longer surviving. We are awakening. Accountability does not mean blaming ourselves. It means guiding our Inner Child with clarity. Saying: “I understand why you believed that, but we are safe now. We choose differently.” This is spiritual reparenting. Not to fix. Not to shame. But to lead with love and integrity.

Becoming Nobody, and In Doing So, Becoming Whole

Here lies the heart of this journal post: when we release the need to be special, we uncover our true uniqueness, not the kind that needs attention, but the type that is. This is the ‘Sacred Ordinary’. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” There is no one else in the universe with your Shen, your truth, your path. And if that isn’t enough, then we’re chasing something that was never real.

To become a material nobody, we must release the illusions of identity. It is not to disappear, it is to dissolve the walls that kept our Shen hidden. To surrender the masks. To stop performing. And in that surrender, we remember who we truly are. We are not here to be seen. We are here to ‘be’. That is enough.

Emotions: The Compass Back to Reality

Emotions are not enemies. They are messengers. Every red-light emotion is a signpost, not a verdict. It says: “Look here. Something within needs your attention.”

We create 100% of our emotions, not as blame, but as power. Even those we trigger in others arise from beliefs we’ve accepted. Our Inner Child often reacts with fear, demanding validation, safety, or control. But we can gently redirect: “Let’s come back to reality. What belief is fuelling this?”

This is the heart of living truthfully. We stop reacting. We begin responding with grace, with presence, with the grounded wisdom of Shen. Like water, we become fluid. Adaptive. Strong in softness. As the Tao teaches: “Be like water. It settles in low places others disdain, and so is close to the Tao.” (Verse 8)

Returning to the Root

In this journal post, ‘Sacred Ordinary’, we have explored the illusion of specialness, the pressure to be ahead, and the fantasy that growth comes through striving. We have remembered that our Inner Child created these beliefs not out of failure, but out of a longing to be safe and seen.

But now we see more clearly. We are not behind. We are not broken. We are precisely where we need to be, unfolding and flowing like the Tao, neither ahead nor behind, but always in motion, always aligned.

Let this be our affirmation: “I no longer need to be special to matter. I honour the uniqueness of the ‘Sacred Ordinary’. I am not behind. I am not ahead. I am exactly where I need to be, unfolding with the Tao.”

Let us walk together, not competing or comparing, but companioning each other on this sacred path of awakening. Let us release the weight of trying to be more, and allow ourselves to be truthful, whole, and utterly enough.

In the quiet stillness of the ‘Sacred Ordinary’, we remember that we already are everything.

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Living Without the Illusion of Elsewhere

Have you ever caught yourself replaying an old mistake, wishing you could rewrite the past? Or perhaps you've stared anxiously into the fog of an unknown future, hoping for signs that everything will be okay? Do you find yourself constantly pulled by regret and worry, as if life were always happening somewhere else, anywhere but here?

These experiences are familiar because they stem from the human struggle to live in the “now.” Our Inner Child often seeks safety in a time machine that doesn’t exist, yearning to undo yesterday or guarantee tomorrow. But what if we told ourselves the truth? The only real power we hold is in this present moment. Right now. That is where peace resides. This journal post explores how we can fully inhabit this moment with presence, authenticity, and inner calm, which the Taoists call “Sit in it”. We'll examine the roots of avoidance, the traps of perfectionism and control, and the path back to effortless effort, wu wei. We will also explore how our Inner Child attempts to escape the discomfort of the present moment, and how we can lovingly guide this part of ourselves into alignment.

Let us step away from the fantasy of a time machine and move into our truth. Let us begin to look at the ‘Now Unfolding’.

Our Inner Child’s Distraction Tactics

Living in the present moment sounds beautifully simple. Yet, when we attempt it, we often discover resistance, distraction, or unease. Why? Because our Inner Child is rarely comfortable in the now. It clings to the past as a defence mechanism, trying to make sense of unresolved issues by rehearsing them, reimagining them with different endings, or harbouring resentment. It also projects itself into the future, believing that if it can predict or perfect what’s to come, we will finally be safe.

This creates the illusion that peace lies elsewhere: “If only I hadn’t done that…”, “Someday, when everything is perfect…”. However, this ‘Carousel of Despair’ that appears as regret and fantasy keeps us trapped. As we once wrote: “Our Inner Child thrives in the misty realm of someday and if only,” and that mist often disguises the vibrant clarity of now.

Control becomes a coping strategy. Our Inner Child equates certainty with safety, so it constructs endless scenarios in pursuit of perfection and protection. But as Taoism teaches, control is not strength; it is rigidity. And rigidity breaks under pressure. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us in Verse 76: “A rigid tree breaks in the storm; the supple reed bends and survives.”

We can trace this behaviour to an early belief: “I must be perfect to be loved,” or “If I control everything, nothing will hurt me.” But our Inner Child does not seek control out of malice; it seeks protection. When we challenge these beliefs with compassion and clarity, we begin to see their illusion for what it is. The present moment, though unpredictable, offers something our Inner Child truly longs for: freedom.

Yet here lies the paradox. Our Inner Child often mistrusts freedom because it confuses safety with familiarity. Even a painful pattern can seem safer than the unknown. Feedback or suggestions, no matter how gently offered, are often interpreted not as a perspective but as a personal attack. Our Inner Child equates all criticism with a threat to its worth, reacting as though its entire identity is under siege. And so, it builds invisible prisons, walls of defensiveness, silence, or perfectionism, to shield against perceived danger. These barriers may seem like strength, but they are only avoidance tactics cloaked in false protection.

What our Inner Child cannot yet understand is that the very prisons it constructs to seem safe are the same structures that keep it trapped. In sealing itself off from perceived threats, it also restricts growth, connection, and authenticity. These self-made walls do not protect; they isolate. They shrink life into a narrow corridor of predictability, where joy and spontaneity are filtered out along with risk and pain.

What begins as a defence becomes a cage. The key is not to tear down the walls with force, but to gently question why they were built in the first place, and whether they are still needed. When we do this with honesty and grace, we invite our Inner Child to step into the light of now, where true safety is found not in control, but in courage, curiosity, and truth.

Taoist wisdom shows us a gentler way. A tree does not panic in the wind; it bends, flexible yet rooted. The Sage bends in the face of truth, adjusting without breaking. Similarly, we can learn to view feedback not as a reflection of who we are, but rather as information, a gust of wind passing through. We can gently explain to our Inner Child: “This is not a judgment; it is an opinion. And opinions cannot define us.” As this message is heard, layer by layer, the walls begin to soften.

In truth, we cannot force our Inner Child out of its prison. But we can offer consistency and kindness. We can speak with the voice of our Shen, saying: “We are already worthy. We are already enough.” And in that space, the possibility of freedom begins to grow, not from control or perfection, but from understanding, acceptance, and presence. This is the quiet revolution of living in the now.

Effortless Effort: Finding Wu Wei in the Moment

The Tao does not ask us to be idle. It encourages us to respond naturally, to live in harmony with our true nature. This is wu wei, effortless effort. When we align our actions with the rhythm of life, rather than resisting it or forcing outcomes, we discover a graceful flow.

Imagine water flowing around rocks. It doesn’t complain, delay, or rush. It simply moves, guided by nature’s design. This is the spirit of ‘Now Unfolding’. To live in the present is not to withdraw from life but to meet it as it is, with trust, clarity, and responsiveness.

Practising wu wei in daily life is not about doing less, but about doing with alignment and flow. It means moving in harmony with the natural rhythm of life, without pushing against it or forcing outcomes. Wu wei encourages us to act when there is clarity and pause when there is uncertainty, allowing our Shen, our inner knowing, to guide us calmly through life’s unfolding moments.

One expression of this wisdom is choosing to meet red-light emotions not with resistance, but with curiosity. These strong emotions, fear, frustration, and anxiety, are not punishments or flaws, but signposts pointing us toward a belief we’ve accepted. When we trace an emotion back to its origin, we create space for a deeper understanding. This shift from reaction to inquiry is a living example of wu wei: gentle, present, and free from struggle.

We also begin to live wu wei when we take on tasks or face situations without immediately comparing, evaluating, or judging ourselves or others. When we release expectations, especially those shaped by past conditioning or imagined futures, we create room for authenticity to emerge. Life flows more smoothly when we stop measuring it and start experiencing it as it comes.

And perhaps most importantly, we remember that perfection is not a requirement for participation. Perfection is not absolute; it’s only a perception, a constantly changing idea shaped by fleeting opinions, unrealistic comparisons, and our Inner Child’s need for approval. What one person calls flawless, another may ignore. Chasing it is like trying to hold wind in your hands; it slips away the tighter you grasp.

When we let go of the need to be perfect, we uncover a more profound truth: our worth is not conditional. We don’t need to wait until we’re polished or prepared to show up. The Tao doesn’t ask us to be exceptional; it simply asks us to be sincere. Participation doesn’t demand mastery; it welcomes presence. In every moment, we are invited to be ourselves. That is more than enough. That is alignment. That is wu wei.

As the I Ching reveals in Hexagram 52, “Stillness comes when the back is aligned with the heart.” This alignment is internal, when we can stand tall in our truth and authenticity, when our choices reflect our Shen spirituality rather than our fears. We act without needing the world to be different first. We stop bargaining with life.

This is not passivity. This is power. It is the courage to stop waiting for the “right” moment and instead declare: “Now is enough. I am enough.”

Breaking the Spell of CCJ

The greatest obstacle to presence is what we call CCJ—Criticising, Comparing, and being Judgmental. These habits are subtle ways of escaping the now. Our Inner Child uses CCJ to create drama, to delay action, or to maintain the illusion of superiority or inferiority.

• “I should have done better.” (Criticism)

• “They’re ahead of me.” (Comparison)

• “I’m not good enough.” (Judgmental)

These are not reflections of truth but echoes of emotions, such as fear. They distract us from the miracle of the moment. As we have written before: “We cannot change what we do not understand and accept.” Recognising these patterns is the first act of liberation.

Instead of resisting the present, we must ask: “What belief is causing me to create this red-light feeling?” Often, we uncover a belief of being seen, of not being enough, or of failure. But when we breathe into the subsequent fears, without judging them, they lose their grip. We replace CCJ with CCC - compassion, curiosity, and clarity. We say: “In this moment, I trust my Shen. I am aligned, and I choose peace.” Adding “I only have this moment.”

Embracing the Unknown with Open Hands and Minds

Our Inner Child mistrusts uncertainty, often mistaking it for danger. But the Tao reminds us that the unknown is not an enemy; it is the very landscape of life itself. The truth is, we have never lived outside uncertainty. The unknown is not a foreign land to be feared; it is our home. It is where we were born, where we have always dwelled, and where we continue to unfold. Demanding guarantees or certainty is like trying to build walls in an open field; it only restricts the view.

When we relax into the boundless space of the unknown, we don’t lose control; we gain freedom. In that openness, creativity awakens, joy becomes possible, and the depth of our spirit rises to meet us. What once seemed like chaos becomes the canvas for discovery. This is the wisdom of the Tao: “life is not meant to be predicted or perfected, only participated in,” moment by moment, breath by breath.

Walking in the Flow of Now

We began this journey by questioning our tendency to look backwards with regret or forward with anxiety. We explored how our Inner Child seeks safety in illusion, and how CCJ keeps us away from the power of the present. But as we conclude, we return to one profound truth: “We are never more powerful than in the now”.

Every moment we choose presence, we reconnect with our Shen and access the limitless potential of our spirit. Living in the now is not a skill to be mastered overnight; it is a daily practice, a return to simplicity, a small, steady step toward truth.

Let us stop looking for the time machine. Let us embrace the golden light of today. Let us trust in the effortless effort of wu wei, release the heavy cloak of CCJ, and offer our Inner Child the gentle assurance that all is well, right here. Affirm: “I create my emotions and embrace the now.”

As we walk this path together, let’s remember: never doubt yourself. You are capable. You can cope because you always have and will continue to. Take small, consistent, manageable steps. No expectations. No harsh criticism. No comparing. Not judgmental. Let the moment unfold. Let your life embrace ‘Now Unfolding’.

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Moments of Inspiration…

Do you listen to your Shen, or your emotions?

There are moments, quiet and fleeting, when something inside us whispers truth. Not a shout, not a demand, just a nudge. A clarity that arrives without reason. A knowing. These are the moments of inspiration. But how often do we listen?

Too often, our emotions crowd in first, loud, urgent, filled with fear, anger, or shame. These emotional voices, usually shaped by our Inner Child’s need for certainty or validation, try to take the wheel. They seek protection, not truth. But our Shen, our spirit, speaks with a more profound wisdom. It does not plead or panic. It waits, patient and kind, ready when we are quiet enough to hear.

Taoist teaching reminds us that emotions are not the truth; they are messengers of our beliefs. They show us where we are not aligned. Shen speaks from that alignment. And when we learn to pause before reacting, to ask, “Is this my Shen or my storm?”, we open a space for grace to enter.

Inspiration flows from Shen. It is the voice of integrity, creativity, and peace. It knows we are already enough, that no perfection is needed. It gently steers us back to presence and possibility, even when emotions try to pull us into old patterns.

So today, let us listen, not to the noise of urgency, but to the quiet rhythm of truth.

Affirm: “I honour the calm wisdom of my Shen and trust in the still, quiet knowing within me.”

Begin this week with awareness. When emotion surges, pause. In that space, let your Shen speak. It has been waiting for you.

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In the Next ‘Inner Circle’ (Paid) journal…

• Worthiness Bank

• Emotion Architects

• Serene Harmony

• Moments of Inspiration

In the Next Free Journal…

• Silent Knowing

• The False Measure

• Broken Vow

• Moments of Inspiration

Journal #F043 25/08/2025