A simple way to start learning the definition of Taoism is to start within yourself. Here are 3 easy starting steps to learning Tao:

1) Don’t concentrate on the meaning of Tao or Dao (this will come later naturally)

2) Understand what Tao is. It is more than just a philosophy or religion. A system of belief, attitudes, and practices set towards the service and living to a person’s nature.

3) The path of understanding is simply accepting oneself. Live your life and discover who you really are. Your nature is ever-changing and is always the same. Don’t try to resolve the various contradictions in life, instead learn acceptance of your true nature.

Take time, relax and just explore and poke around. It has no plans. It is based on following your gut feelings and trusting your instincts.

Tao teaches a person to drop expectations. The more expectations you have for your life, the less you will become. A Tao Sage lives life without expectations, living in the here and now. People also need a few expectations as it’s part of navigating their story. Here is a trick. Create only a single expectation at a time for that future experience. For example, an expectation you will smile or have some fun. That’s it! Don’t place any learning or changing into your expectations. If you do, this plants the seed for the opposite to occur, by creating a single simple expectation such as smiling, this then becomes something you can always fulfill since you can empower that action to happen. Any expectation more complicated or relying on something outside yourself just sets up the future to not meeting your needs. Dropping expectation is very important.

People expect and think that the goal of life is perfection, it’s not. Work both at being good at something while also embracing the various little faults in life. Imperfections end up being critical defining characteristics of each of us. The little bits of imperfection we each have are elements of chaos that give each person individuality and distinction!