Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching: Finding Joy in Simplicity
Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching gently reminds us to release our attachment to excess and welcome the simplicity of a more harmonious life. Yay, doesn’t this sound amazing?!
Shockingly, this thought-provoking teaching from Lao Tzu feels as relevant today as it was over 2400 years ago!
This verse invites us to pause and look inward. To me, it’s a bit tricky to unpack, but I’ll share the aspects that resonate with me most, offering insights and practical approaches to help us all create a life grounded in balance and simplicity.
Together, we can reflect on this eternal wisdom and explore meaningful ways to weave it into our daily lives.
First, let’s look at Stephen Mitchell’s interpretation of Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching:
“Throw away holiness and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times happier.
Throw away morality and justice,
and people will do the right thing.
Throw away industry and profit,
and there won’t be any thieves.
If these three aren’t enough,
just stay at the center of the circle
and let all things take their course.”
Excerpt From
Tao Te Ching
Stephen Mitchell & Lao Tzu
Let’s take a look:
Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching is a call to simplicity.
Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching makes us wonder, are we looking for happiness in all the wrong places? It’s hard to know when we are constantly bombarded with images of excess. We wonder if getting more and more will finally bring us the happiness we seek. But a part of us knows that it never will. This desire for more actually distracts us from what truly brings joy.
Lao Tzu urges us to embrace simplicity instead. This ancient work still resonates today and I find that it reflects the work of Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar.
Dr. Ben-Shahar introduces the SPIRE method, which teaches that happiness stems from nurturing our spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional lives. Living simply allows us to focus on these areas, leading us to happiness.
What steps can you take to simplify your life now?
Read more about the ‘beauty of enough’ here.
Trust yourself. Try not to overthink and overanalyze.
Have you taken a moment to consider how much information you absorb every single day?
It’s incredible—an endless stream of inputs from morning to night.
But does all this information genuinely bring us clarity?
If we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is likely a resonant “no.” Overthinking, in many ways, is useless. The more we analyze, the more we distance ourselves from our instincts and our inner sense of knowing.
What if there’s another way? What if, instead of taking in so much of the noise we are exposed to, we focused on what truly matters—the things that bring value and joy to our lives? When we quiet our minds, we can become more clear.
And with that clarity comes freedom. It empowers us to make decisions that align with our true selves.
We can find flow and ease, effortlessly stepping onto a path that feels right—guided by harmony and self-trust.
Even more, this practice teaches us to believe more in ourselves. By letting go of overanalysis, we reconnect with our inner wisdom, discovering inner peace and balance.
“As with virtually all of the teachings of the Tao, the greatest trust is placed in your accessing the sacred Tao center of yourself. Within you lies a piece of God that instinctively knows what to do and how to be. Trust yourself,”
**Learn more about trusting yourself here.
*How can you cut back on the consumption of information?
*What situations can you trust yourself versus looking outside of yourself?
Be happy and content with what you have right now.
In our world today, it’s easy to feel unfulfilled. Through the Instagram app alone, we can scroll through and see what other people are doing, their extravagant homes, and their exotic travel. We can easily fall into the trap of feeling that we don’t have enough.
However, shifting our focus can help us feel a sense of deeper contentment. We can shift to appreciating what we already have rather than long for what we lack.
When our minds are consumed by our endless list of wants and needs, we overlook the quiet beauty of the present moment, which is the gateway to true happiness and inner calm.
Viewing our world through the lens of gratitude invites us to be fully present, free from the distractions of wanting and yearning. In this space, we discover a deeper fulfillment that moves us into the flow.
*Notice when you feel happy with what you have? How can you access this feeling more often?
*When you are consumed by thoughts of what you don’t have? How can you support yourself and move into a space of gratitude instead?
Focus on your contributions and generosity.
Think of the many ways you contribute daily—the kindness you offer others and the love you give—without focusing on what you might gain in return.
This mindset of selfless giving can be genuinely transformative. It allows us to positively impact the world without expecting anything in return, creating a ripple effect of kindness and generosity.
Still, we are human! And humans are often wired to seek validation and recognition for our actions. So, it’s a subtle inner shift that we need to make.
But when are able to shift our focus toward selfless giving, we begin to feel a sense of purpose that goes beyond any outward achievements.
Think about all the people who’ve made a difference in your life – friends, family members, mentors, teachers, even strangers – who’ve contributed to your growth and happiness without expecting anything in return. Now, you can pay it forward and see the flow of abundance continue to flow into your life.
Also, from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life:
“Lao-tzu advises you to stay centered within the all-encompassing integrity of the Tao and to release your view of profits and monetary gain as indicators of your success. When you see your life through the perspective of the Tao teaching, you’ll not need to hoard large sums of money. Instead, you’ll discover the pleasure of serving others in a spirit of endless generosity. Or, as this translation of the Tao Te Ching puts it, you’ll “cast off selfishness and temper desire.”
*What random act of kindness will you do today?
Reap the benefits of living without attachment.
According to Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life:
“Choose to see the outward forms as poor substitutions for your true nature, and you’ll begin to live without attachment to those forms. You’ll see your inner laws, which never require codifying; you’ll live with freedom and simplicity. Trust first and foremost in yourself.”
We are inundated with expectations of what to do, how to live, and who to be. Imagine the freedom of living authentically, guided by your beliefs and values.
What if you followed a career path that truly resonates with your heart, even if it doesn’t align with what your family envisions for you? Honoring your truth opens the door to a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.
Living authentically requires courage and vulnerability.
It means stepping outside societal norms and being true to yourself, even if it means going against the grain. It may not be easy, but the rewards can be huge.
You possess a unique set of skills, talents, and passions that no one else in the world possesses. By following your own north star, you can live your best life and inspire others to do the same.
This journey may come with challenges and obstacles, but each hurdle is an opportunity to growth and discover more about who you are and the path you’re on.
*What do you dream of doing, even though it goes against societal expectations? How can you take steps toward this dream today?
Transform your view on what it means to be successful.
Lastly, from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life:
“Live without attachment by being generous. Let go of evaluating yourself based on how much you’ve accumulated and what is in your financial portfolio. Stop putting a dollar value on all that you have and do. Let go of your need to get a “good deal“ and choose instead to be a being of sharing.
You’ll be surprised by how nice it feels to change your belief that you’re only successful if you’re making money. The less you focus on making a profit—instead shifting your energy to living your purpose in harmony with everyone else—the more money will flow to you, and the more opportunities for generosity will be available to you.”
This completely upends our view of success. Sometimes, we seem programmed to believe success is only determined by outward, measurable data, like how much money we have in our bank account or what title we hold in our job.
I know this is a challenge (!), but try turning this concept upside down and think instead of viewing success as living graciously. Place value on being a generous, giving person who lives their life with grace and kindness.
*How can you live more generously today?
My experience with Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching:
I mentioned above that this Verse is tricky, mainly because I’m still working through its teachings today.
First, I’m still mentally working through the decluttering process in my personal spaces at home! This is not a strength of mine, to say the least. But I do know that this is true. I am committed to simplifying and focusing more on what truly makes me happy in 2025.
As for managing consumption, this is also a challenge for me! It’s funny because I know I’m wasting time taking in meaningless content online, and sometimes I do it anyway. This year, I’m focused on reading more and scrolling less.
When it comes to being happy with what I have, this feeling always comes and goes for me. I’ve started doing gratitude meditations on my Insight Timer app every morning, and I love them.
As for shifting my focus from a career with external rewards to one aligned more with my own north star, I’m on this path right now. I find this teaching so comforting and helpful as I make my way along unchartered territory. I went from owning a successful optometry practice to dedicating my time to writing a blog without formal training or guidance.
Although I don’t get paid the way I used to in practice, I am so happy when people tell me that a blog piece helped them in some way. I feel grateful to be able to spend time doing meaningful work that I love.
Thank you for following along with me as I journey forward.
xo- Tricia
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