Love Notes 🤍 Non-interference

The Tao Te Ching talks about the concept and practice of non-interference. Lao Tzu writes, “When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering.”

As with most of life, discernment is key. It’s tempting to step in to alleviate the appearance of suffering with someone we care about, but often times, we can’t know from our limited perspectives what that individual’s soul might actually need to move the needle forward in his/her life. What could look horrifying from the outside, might be the exact experience required to grow that person or give them a new skill, understanding or timeline.

For example, your parents are fighting again, and you are tempted to step in and “fix” it, or stop the heated conversation altogether to alleviate the tension in the room. But what if that argument needs to happen so they can get to a hard truth or work through a chronic issue to create deeper intimacy? Or what if they need to get to that moment of realizing they would be happier apart and an exciting new life direction awaits?

Honing our discernment and acting from alignment will guide us as to when to step in and take action, and when to step back and observe with compassion, while praying for the highest outcome is a blessing to all involved. This is what it is to truly “hold space.” 🫶🏻