What Lights You Up?
From Being Stuck to Living With Soulful Fire
Sadly, we often choose the mundane over the meaningful, trading the radiance of our passions for the dim security of the predictable.
We tell ourselves that the hustle matters more than the heart, that survival comes before soulfulness.
But what if we’re wrong? What if the very life we yearn for lies not in the daily grind, but in the daily grace of doing what lights us up?
As I reflect on the start of 2025, I feel an unmistakable pull to immerse myself in the “heart stuff”—to live fully and deeply in the work of Taoism and Eastern philosophy.
For years, I’ve flirted with these teachings, dipping my toes in meditation and philosophy, exploring Zhuangzi’s timeless wisdom about the interconnectedness of all things.
But this year, I’m called to go beyond intellectual appreciation. This is my year of full embodiment, of mastery, of stepping boldly into the Taoist way of life and sharing my nomadic wisdom with the world through Chocolate Taoist Nation.
The Mundane Trap: Why We Forsake What Resonates
Modern life often seduces us into the mundane. We’re taught to prioritize utility and outcomes—making money, acquiring status, achieving measurable goals.
These pursuits often silence the whisper of our passions, relegating them to hobbies or indulgences. The daily grind becomes a habit, and soon we forget what it feels like to be truly alive.
I’ve fallen into this trap, too. There were years when my work was more about checking boxes than living out my purpose. But deep inside, a voice always urged me to explore the expansiveness of Taoism, to embrace the call of Eastern philosophy, to share its wisdom and live it in every breath.
For years, I resisted—until I realized that the life I craved wasn’t waiting in the future. It was here, now, in my decision to embody what lights me up.
Embodying the Tao: A Life of Interconnected Freedom
The teachings of Taoism and Eastern philosophy remind us that life is not a straight path to a fixed destination. Zhuangzi speaks of “wandering freely,” surrendering to the flow of the Tao rather than forcing our way through life.
This wisdom calls us to honor what resonates with us, to cultivate what feels alive and true rather than what feels expected or obligatory.
This year, I’ve embraced this philosophy in everything I do. From my qigong practice to writing for Chocolate Taoist Nation, I approach each day as an invitation to align with the boundless and the interconnected.
My nomadic soul finds joy in the small moments—brewing tea in the morning, watching the sky shift in color, connecting with those who resonate with my work. These aren’t grand gestures, but they are profoundly meaningful. They are the embodiment of a life lived expansively and authentically.
Wisdom from Zhuangzi and the Buddha
Zhuangzi’s teachings offer profound insights into pursuing what lights us up. He reminds us to let go of rigid attachments, to embrace the spontaneity of life, and to honor the rhythms of nature.
To Zhuangzi, living authentically means stepping into harmony with the Tao, finding joy not in what we achieve but in how we flow with life’s currents.
Similarly, Buddhist wisdom reminds us of the impermanence of all things. Clinging to the mundane—the job, the title, money, the predictable routine—does not protect us from life’s uncertainties.
Instead, it often blinds us to the deeper joys of the present moment. When we release attachment to what feels “safe,” we open ourselves to the freedom and joy of pursuing what truly resonates.
Five Practical Call to Actions
🔥 Cultivate Daily Presence: Begin each day with a grounding ritual that connects you to what matters. For me, this is qigong and a few moments of stillness. What might it look like for you?
🔥 Listen to Your Inner Compass: Reflect on what truly lights you up. Write it down, meditate on it, and let it guide your decisions.
🔥 Simplify to Amplify: Clear away distractions and obligations that don’t serve your passions. Create space for what feels alive.
🔥 Wander Freely: Allow spontaneity into your life. Take a different route home, try something new, or let yourself be guided by curiosity rather than obligation.
🔥 Share Your Light: Embodying what lights you up isn’t just about personal joy; it’s about sharing that joy with others. Whether through your work, your art, or your presence, let your radiance inspire those around you.
Stepping Into the Bright Light
This year, I am choosing the path that lights me up, the path of deep work and mastery, the path of the Tao. It’s a path that calls me to embrace life with interconnected freedom and boundless joy. It’s a path that reminds me that what truly matters isn’t what I achieve, but how authentically I live.
I invite you to join me on this journey—not necessarily into Taoism, but into whatever lights you up. Step off the path of the mundane. Wander freely into the heart of what resonates. This is where life truly begins.
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Much Love,
Diamond Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist
Is The Chocolate Taoist Nation different or separate from the Chocolate Taoist? Is the Nation new or have I just not picked up on that before? I am very stimulated by what you write and very grateful.
Not a hero worshiper here, but what lights me up each day is my first reading encounter with TCT. What I have only in my 80s realised is I grew up without any intellect stimulation throughout my formative years. A few decades ago I found that what lights me up is c r e a t i v i t y against the mundane. I testify that hope survives it all and we can find and change what seems to have been our destiny and/or our eternal detriment. Creativity can be found in humans more often than what we may be able to observe in other life forms, but it is there nevertheless. I Light Up with music, words, ideas, work satisfaction, innovation, good food, good talk, and yes that eternal means of achieving a comfortable status with the thing called money. Not having had it when a child, I was taught by sad means that money was evil and those who had it were in some way dangerous and to be regarded with suspicion. Money is/was itself a creative thing developed in eastern Asia to dominate cultures that fell within the scope of authoritarian strength. We all need it and creativity assists in making it available for our use. Jack Weatherford's book on money is an excellent read, BTW. To my tribe friends here at TCT, I would love to read what y'all think about creativity and how it has influenced your lives! Love.