Taoism in the real world

I shared a line from a poem about finding allies in nature on a Reddit board, and among other responses was this: If you want to be seen, allow yourself to be lonely. This spoke to me deeply. Why? Among other things, it reminded me that so often Lao Tzu tells us to do the opposite of what we would like to see happen in our lives: If we wish to earn respect, we are told to take a place beneath others. If we wish for knowledge and understanding, we are asked to rest in unknowin

Taoism has truly brought a sense of peace, wholeness, and effortless joy into my life. But this past weekend, as I began thinking about where I am hoping to get in life, I had a stark realization: I am very  attached to outcomes in so many areas — my financial situation, my appearance, my love life, my house, my writing, my art. When I am honest with myself, I realize I still want very much to somehow be in the upper 10%, live in a beautiful home with a beautiful yard, look I