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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life summary
Living the Wisdom of the Tao
17 mins
Brief summary
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life by Wayne W. Dyer is a self-help book that provides a practical interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. It aims to help readers change their thought patterns to live a more fulfilling life.
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Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life
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The Tao is the source of all creation, and a key to understanding it is to allow more and desire less.
The Tao Te Ching is an ancient text composed of 81 verses, which is often quite poetic in the way it imparts wisdom and describes the way of the Tao. But what is the Tao?
According to its first verse, “The Tao is both named and nameless… it is the origin of all things.” So right away we’re presented with a paradoxical idea: that this energy behind all creation has no name, even though we call it the Tao.
A recurring theme in the text is that the name for something is not the same as the thing itself. For example, the ocean itself is not the same as the word or labels we use to describe it. So, one of the teachings of the Tao Te Ching is to put less emphasis on names, labels and boxing things into categories.
We may give a name to the Tao, but really there’s no name for it, since it is that which gave birth to all things. The text refers to the Tao as the “Mother of 10,000 things,” these being the very first 10,000 things to have existed. We can’t see the Tao, but the results of it are all around us: The Tao and those first things are what led to us and everything we can see.
The first verse also establishes the Tao as being mysterious, and that only those who are “desireless” can see the mystery, while those who are “ever desiring” will only see the manifestations and things the Tao creates.
Many verses in the Tao Te Ching touch on the idea of being effortless and suggest that we can look at desire as an effort that’s worth reducing. As the author sees it, this means desiring less and allowing more.
In many aspects of life, we can see how our desires can be less helpful than our ability to step back and simply allow things to happen. When you’re trying to go to sleep, for instance, strong desires can only stand in the way. It’s not until you clear your mind and gently allow yourself to drift off that sleep will finally arrive.
The same can also be said for gardening. Active desire won’t make your garden grow any faster or more healthily. Nature has its own deliberate pace, and it’s this same pace we should adopt in our lives. For the mysteries of the Tao are only available to those who are at one with the natural way and are “ever desireless.”
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What is Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life about?
Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life (2007) takes you through each verse of the Tao Te Ching, the classic text related to the philosophical and spiritual traditions of Taoism. Drawing from different modern interpretations, the author draws out the fundamental teachings and suggests ways in which Taoism continues to be relevant and beneficial today.
Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life Review
Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life (2007) by Wayne W. Dyer is a powerful book that explores the transformative potential of changing our thoughts. Here's why it's worth reading:
- Packed with wisdom and insights, it guides readers in shifting their mindset to create positive change in every aspect of their lives.
- Blending Eastern philosophy with personal experiences, Dyer provides a practical roadmap for personal growth and inner peace.
- With its refreshing perspective on life and self-transformation, this book breaks through the mundane and offers a new way of seeing and living.
Who should read Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life?
- Individuals seeking guidance on how to live a virtuous life
- Spiritual people interested in learning about Taoism
- Students of Eastern religions
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Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life FAQs
What is the main message of Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life?
The main message of Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life is that by changing our thoughts, we can transform our lives.
How long does it take to read Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life?
The reading time for Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life can vary, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life a good book? Is it worth reading?
Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life is worth reading as it offers practical guidance on transforming our lives through the power of our thoughts.
Who is the author of Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life?
The author of Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life is Wayne W. Dyer.
What to read after Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life?
If you're wondering what to read next after Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Power of Intention by Wayne W. Dyer
- You'll See It When You Believe It by Wayne W. Dyer
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
- The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra
- The Power of Awakening by Wayne W. Dyer
- Happy Mind, Happy Life by Rangan Chatterjee
- Manifest by Roxie Nafousi
- The Analects by Confucius
- Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
- The Way of Zen by Alan W. Watts