The Tao of Keeping Your Cool
Finding Peace and Purpose During Tumultuous Times
It feels like chaos is reigning supreme these days. Are you witnessing it too?
Social media algorithms stoke our anger. The 24-hour news cycle churns out crisis after crisis. And, like him or not, Donald Trump’s polarizing presence as a political force once again dominates the American landscape.
It’s enough to make anyone feel like losing their cookies. Yet, in times like these, ancient wisdom—from the I Ching to Zen philosophy—reminds us that peace isn’t something granted by external circumstances. It’s an inside job.
As someone striving to live by the Tao, I often reflect on Hexagram 61: Inner Truth from the I Ching, which teaches that peace comes from alignment with one’s inner values and trust in what lies beneath life’s surface. When chaos swirls, the Tao urges us to act like still water, reflecting the storm without becoming the storm.
But how do we maintain a peaceful countenance in such a turbulent world, and, more importantly, how do we do so while creating meaning and impact? This is the challenge I aim to embrace each day, recognizing that inner peace is not a retreat from the world but the foundation for engaging with it.
Below, I offer five practical steps rooted in the I Ching, Zen teachings, and my personal practice to avoid losing one’s cookies in the Trumpian era (or any era of upheaval).
Practice Non-Attachment: Hexagram 23 (Splitting Apart)
The I Ching reminds us through Hexagram 23 that there are times when the old must fall away to make room for the new. This process can feel destructive, but resisting it only amplifies suffering. Whether it’s political turmoil, societal decay, or personal upheaval, clinging to how things “should” be traps us in frustration.
How I Apply This: I remind myself daily that the world unfolds according to its own rhythm—not mine. This doesn’t mean apathy. Rather it means accepting what I cannot control while focusing my energy on what I can impact.
Your Takeaway: Cultivate non-attachment by meditating on impermanence. Visualize yourself as a tree, rooted deeply in your values while letting external storms pass without snapping.
Recenter Daily with Zen’s Beginner’s Mind
Zen teaches the power of “Beginner’s Mind,” a practice of seeing each moment as fresh, free from judgment and preconception. When faced with political or social upheaval, it’s easy to react reflexively, recycling anger and fear. Beginner’s Mind invites us to respond, not react.
How I Apply This: I start my mornings with five minutes of mindful breathing, setting the intention to approach the day with curiosity rather than cynicism. Instead of assuming I already know how events will unfold, I try to stay open to discovery.
Your Takeaway: Each day, pause for a few moments to breathe deeply and repeat this Zen-inspired mantra: “I do not know. I am open to seeing.”
Avoid Engagement with Fruitless Arguments: Hexagram 6 (Conflict)
Hexagram 6 warns us about the futility of engaging in disputes when the goal isn’t resolution. Most political debates—especially on social media—devolve into ego-driven battles where no one listens, and everyone leaves angrier than before.
How I Apply This: I’ve made it a rule to avoid digital mudslinging. Instead of “correcting” someone’s inflammatory comment, I redirect my energy toward writing, teaching, or engaging in conversations that foster mutual understanding.
Your Takeaway: Next time you’re tempted to fire off a clever rebuttal online, ask yourself: “Will this bring clarity or just escalate conflict?” Nine times out of ten, it’s better to just let it go.
Channel Frustration into Meaningful Action: Hexagram 46 (Pushing Upward)
The I Ching’s Hexagram 46 emphasizes steady progress despite obstacles. Frustration with the state of the world can paralyze us or spur us to action. The key is to channel that energy into pursuits aligned with our values.
How I Apply This: My work as a writer, speaker, and qigong practitioner allows me to create spaces where people can find calm and clarity. When the political noise feels overwhelming, I double down on activities that uplift others.
Your Takeaway: Identify one area where you can make an impact—whether volunteering, donating, or mentoring—and commit to it. The act of doing something meaningful can transform despair into purpose.
Anchor Yourself in Stillness: Zen’s Mu (Nothingness)
Zen philosophy teaches that stillness is not the absence of action but the presence of being. In a noisy, overstimulated world, stillness is a radical act of defiance—and the gateway to peace.
How I Apply This: I practice a meditative qigong daily, moving slowly and intentionally to synchronize my breath and body. This practice reminds me that peace is not a destination but an ever-present state I can return to.
Your Takeaway: Dedicate five to ten minutes a day to a stillness practice, whether it’s meditation, qigong, or simply sitting quietly. Let the chaos of the world flow around you without taking it in.
The Tao of Making an Impact
Maintaining a peaceful countenance doesn’t mean disengaging from the world. Quite the opposite: inner peace is what allows us to act with clarity and purpose. My aim is to embody this principle by weaving Taoist wisdom into my daily life, creating ripples of calm and inspiration in the midst of the storm.
You don’t have to be a Zen master or an I Ching scholar to walk this path. All it takes is a willingness to pause, reflect, and act with intention. In doing so, you not only avoid losing your cookies but also contribute to a more balanced, compassionate world.
In the words of Lao Tzu:
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?”
That, my friends, is the essence of staying cool when everything around you is on fire.
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Much Love,
Diamond- Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist
Thank you for bringing the stillness to Substack not in an abstract way but in a way that makes sense in the immediate situation, practical, and calming.
This is the key:
"I’ve made it a rule to avoid digital mudslinging. Instead of “correcting” someone’s inflammatory comment, I redirect my energy toward writing, teaching, or engaging in conversations that foster mutual understanding."
I stopped replying to comments years ago, but now I avoid reading them altogether and instead am focusing on my writing to get my thoughts out and say what I think needs to be said.
I realized just a few months ago that it is not our duty as activists to change people's minds. We need to find a way to get back to having open hearts and recognize that we share the same spirit.
I'm directing all of my energy now into writing a book that takes place during the Spanish Inquisition and is an allegory for the alienating of 'foreigners' or 'undesirable others' that is happening around the world now. I think that writing an allegory through historical fiction is a more universal way to help see the patterns of human behavior that cause suffering, rather than preaching about who is "wrong" and who is "right."
All of my poetry lately has been about this concept as well, that we will drown on our ships of righteousness as the world burns around us.