December 11
“The highest goodness is like water: it nourishes all things and contends with none. It dwells in the low places that everyone shuns — and in just this it is close to the Way.”
Tao Te Ching, 8 (freely rendered)
Listening mode
“The highest goodness is like water: it nourishes all things and contends with none. It dwells in the low places that everyone shuns — and in just this it is close to the Way.”
In a meeting, an idea wins the day that you mentioned in passing a week earlier. Now someone else brings it up, put a little better, and everyone nods. You could remind them that it came from you. It wouldn't help the matter.
You say nothing. Shortly afterwards you notice that it's on your mind after all. Apparently you wanted not only for the idea to count, but for it to count as yours. That's no disgrace. It just makes your silence less magnanimous than it felt at first.
Another distinction is harder. Someone who doesn't contend may be generous, or may simply be avoiding conflict. From the outside the two look the same, and even from the inside they can't always be told apart. Sometimes you leave something to others because it's in good hands with them. Sometimes because you don't want to be seen.
The difference only becomes clearer when something would go wrong without your objection. With this idea, that wasn't the case. It was well received, only without your name.
