Not exalting oneself cultivates humility.
Not accumulating possessions furthers nonattachment.
Not being exposed to riches reduces temptation.
Let go of the mind and strengthen the body.
Let go of striving and strengthen compassion.
Grasping nothing, peace arrives unbidden.
(Tao Te Ching, Chapter Three,
Interpreted by Terry Chitwood)
Like peace, stories arrive unbidden. Characters emerge out of the mist, congealing into distinct personalities, ready for action. Given freedom, characters create their own plots, unfolding into unique themes, each radiating dramatic intensity. And drama unfolds into story.
Unfolding
Don’t strive to control stories; let them unfold. Don’t squeeze the life out of characters; give them room to breathe. Stop strangling stories . . . and characters. Listen to the characters’ voices; watch their movements; follow their lead.
Flowing
Let go of artificial conceptions, allowing thinking to fall away, dropping over a cliff and into the sea. Become water: humble, nonattached . . . flowing. Like a river winding down a mountain, moving around boulders with the ease of a dancer, embrace the divine journey.
Photo Credit: Photo by Dean Fikar.
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