Wen Tzu - Verse 69, Part III

from Verse Sixty-Nine

The Way of Nature is like an echo responding to a sound: when virtue accumulates, then fortune arises; when ills accumulate, then resentment arises.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

This passage can easily be rephrased in popular jargon: What goes around, comes around.

We see this at work in our everyday lives. If you work in an office and the boss or a co-worker is in a sour mood or ranting at anything that moves, a dark veil of negative energy feels as if it has sucked all the air out of the room. It's often difficult to maintain a good mood in such an atmosphere.

Conversely, if that same boss or co-worker is skipping around the office smiling while whistling or humming a peppy tune, the room and atmosphere appear that much brighter. Positive vibes often are infectious; it can be difficult to be sour when everyone else is giddy and upbeat.

The energy we expel outwards often comes back to us. If you seem to be hit time and time again with gusts of negativity, maybe it's time to look in the mirror.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.