Finding My Way with Taoism

Summary

The author, who struggles with anxiety and occasional depression, has found renewed vigor in their meditation practice by incorporating Taoist principles after revisiting "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff.

Abstract

The article describes the author's personal journey with meditation and mental health. Initially, the author's meditation practice had become stagnant, prompting a search for new approaches to manage their mental health challenges. After experiencing their first depressive episode during the Covid lockdowns, the author turned to "The Tao of Pooh" for guidance, a book previously introduced by their father. Upon rereading it, the author discovered a profound connection with Taoism, which resonated more deeply than previous encounters with Buddhism. Integrating Taoist philosophy into their daily meditation has led to a noticeable improvement in the author's ability to cope with anxiety and depression, though the exact cause of this improvement is not the primary concern. The author recommends the book to others, emphasizing its ability to provide a fresh perspective and a more relaxed approach to life during turbulent times.

Opinions

The author values personal growth and self-help through reading and education, especially during challenging times with mental health.
There is a strong belief in the power of meditation as a tool for managing anxiety and depression, with an openness to incorporating spiritual philosophies to enhance its effectiveness.
The author appreciates the personal significance of "The Tao of Pooh" and its influence on their life, recognizing the timing of its initial introduction as potentially impactful.
While the author acknowledges the possibility of a placebo effect or the novelty of Taoism contributing to their improved mental state, they are pragmatic in their approach, focusing on the positive outcomes rather than the reasons behind them.
The author endorses "The Tao of Pooh" for its gentle introduction to Taoism and its potential to offer readers a more serene outlook on life.

Adding a little Taoism boosted my meditation

Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati on Unsplash

The surest way to become tense, awkward and confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard — one that thinks too much

— Benjamin Hoff the Tao of Pooh

As someone who has occasional depression and almost constant anxiety, my meditation practice has been a lifeline more times than I can count. Somewhere along the way, though, I have become entirely complacent in my practice. It wasn’t until recently that I came to see that, however, so I switched up my routine a bit to see if that would help.

Meditation has always been a private affair for me. Something personal and devoid of any secular religion or spiritual philosophy. My normal routine is not much more than finding a quiet place, opening my favorite meditation timer app link below, and finding my inner calm. Sometimes my inner calm is found with only the use of the timer, but sometimes through a guided mindfulness meditation; both have a unique place and purpose in my routine.

Insight timer link:

As I mentioned above, I’m more familiar with struggling with anxiety than I am with depression; my first episode with depression happened after Covid lockdowns started. As such, I have been trying to find new ways to make my journey with my mental health a more meaningful process.

Not being the type of person who skirts around an issue, but I’m also not a person who is vocal about my struggles either. I dive in and find what works for me and implement it in my daily life. Reading and educating myself is an enormous part of that. And, while I may not practice any secular philosophy, I have always had an interest in them.

During a particularly rough time a few weeks back, I picked up the Tao of Pooh written by Benjamin Hoff and read it. My father had given me the book as a preteen, and it was the only time in my life my father had forced me to read something. But rereading it as an adult was eye-opening.

Maybe I had been given this book at the right time when I was a child; maybe the situations in my life at the time were ripe. Or maybe my mind at the time was ripe for the ideas imparted in the book — but whatever the reason may have been, as an adult, I saw how it had influenced me. How the Tao had influenced me may be more apt.

The ideas and philosophy laid out in Taoism ring a certain chord inside me. The closest I have ever been to that before is with Buddhism — but still, Taoism surpassed that.

Naturally, because of this intense resonance, I feel toward Taoism, I have incorporated it into my daily practice. Whether the results I feel since starting this new leg of my journey to strong-arm my anxiety and now my depression — into a manageable beast — is because of the Taoism itself; possibly because it’s new or some placebo effect doesn’t matter. I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth — and that wouldn’t be going with “the flow” of things, one of the main philosophies of Taoism itself!

If you haven’t read The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff, I highly recommend you give it a shot. And, if you have read it, maybe give it a reread. It really has a way of reorienting you within yourself and within the world around you. The book has a gentle way of introducing Taoism, and guiding you toward a more relaxed view of the way life unfolds around you. Something we could all use a bit more of during this turbulent time.