Reflections on the Tao Te Ching Chapter 13

Favor and disgrace make one fearful
The greatest misfortune is the self
What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean?
Favor is high; disgrace is low
Having it makes one fearful
Losing it makes one fearful
This is "favor and disgrace make one fearful"
What does "the greatest misfortune is the self" mean?
The reason I have great misfortune
Is that I have the self
If I have no self
What misfortune do I have?
So one who values the self as the world
Can be given the world
One who loves the self as the world
Can be entrusted with the world

Source: taoism.net/tao-te-ching-online-translation

‘Honour and disgrace can surprise a person.’

Fame and infamy are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. If you remember you are not separate from anyone or anything then you have nothing to fear and nothing to lose.
Your body is insubstantial. Eventually it will fade away and die. As it decomposes it goes back into the earth. That is the cycle of life and death – both of which are illusions. You look at everything in black and white terms. However there is no black and white without all the shades in between.

Everything is a process. Everything is always changing even if the process is very slow and you can’t see it with your naked eye. Remember this then you won’t go seeking happiness in material things.

Find peace and connection within. Remember you are part of everything, the great ‘I am’. There is nothing to fear because you are not your body. Trying to grasp onto it, to try and capture eternal youth, to fear growing old is all a waste of effort. Embrace change and be curious about the future and what it may hold. Stay open you all your experiences and don’t judge them as good or bad. You only create more suffering for yourself when you do.
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Kindness will save the world. It is not weak or soft. It takes great strength and courage not to react angrily or in a fearful way. Lead by example even when others are being unkind for they are hurting inside. Only radiate love and be love because love is what you really are. One day you will realise this fully.