Trust your Inner Nature

Yesterday's verse of the Wayne Dyer book was the most profound one I've read so far.  And the one that spoke to me the loudest. It stressed the importance of living independent of other people's opinions of us - whether good or bad. When we seek favor of others and pursue status, we're not in alignment with the Tao, or our true selves.  We each have a "basic nature that is uniquely [ours]."  We need to "learn to trust that Tao nature and be free of other people's opinions." 

"The Tao doesn't force or interfere with things; it lets them work in their own way to produce results naturally."  When we do things, whatever approval or disfavor we receive is in perfect alignment.  If we value other people's opinions, when they show us praise or favor, we become like a slave to them and when they show disfavor, we try to change their opinion, thereby working our life around and for them.  Both actions on our part are utter madness.  We're living outside of ourselves when we behave that way. 

All of our troubles come from the ego.  Without the ego, we have no troubles.  No insecurities.  No jealousies.  It's a beautiful life.  Just today, in fact, less than an hour ago, I was able to drop my ego and all my fears and insecurities vanished.  Disappeared.  POOF!  I watched it happen.  Of course, my ego came back, and brought along with it, those fears and insecurities.  They're still there now.  But the fact is, we CAN drop our ego at any time and live in perfect peace, harmony, happiness, and LOVE!  This isn't easy, of course.  But it's DO-ABLE!  Totally!  In that instant without my ego I felt nothing but peace.  Love.  Happiness.  Ahhhhhhhhh. 

Whenever we have a passionate thought, it's coming from our inner nature.  That's why when we follow our passions, we're following our inner nature and our truth.  If we feel insecure at times because other people disagree with us, remember that Lao-tzu said "'seeking favor is degrading.'" "It will lead you out of touch with your true self." 

Remember that we're "not only [our] body," and "other people's opinions about what we should or shouldn't be doing probably aren't taking into account your true, eternal being." 
No doubt!  Think about it.  Everyone has opinions on what everyone else should and shouldn't be doing.  But if you think about something someone said to you in those regards, did they have in mind, or even any awareness whatsoever, of your deep, eternal being?  Your true self?  Most likely, no.  Even you.  Even though we all believe we know best, when we look at someone else and think we know best what they should be doing, are WE considering THEIR eternal nature?  Probably not. 
So let go and let BE! 

"Your worldly self isn't your true identity, so trust your eternal self to communicate with you.  It will do so through your inner nature, where you'll honor it through an independent mind.  Respect your vision and trust your natural, passionate thoughts that are aligned with the loving essence of the Tao."  (p. 62 of "Change your Thoughts, Change your Life" by Wayne Dyer). 

Bottom line, listen to and follow your inner nature.  Imagine, or feel, what you're drawn to, "if [you] have no outside forces telling [you] who or what [you] should be." By living THAT way, you're following your own unique, true nature and that's what we're all here to do.