List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

We live in a world growing more complex by the day—a tangle of logic, emotion, and systems.

Everyone is searching for direction: some outward, some inward.

Looking back on the road I’ve walked, I don’t claim to know much.

But what I do know, I know with clarity.

1. Systems speak of law, but people speak from emotion.

Society relies on structure, so the order of things is “law, reason, then emotion.”

But for individuals, the sequence is often reversed:

Emotions come first, reason follows, and legality is the last to be considered.

Governance is grounded in law, but human connection begins with heart.

The wise know the order; the common follow instinct.

2. It’s not that people don’t know—it’s that they don’t want to know.

The most stubborn part of human nature isn’t ignorance, but denial.

Eyes can be open, yet the heart tightly shut.

Sometimes, facing the truth hurts more than believing a lie.

So people choose not to see.

3. Holding tighter doesn’t always make things more secure.

Love, dreams, freedom—they all need room to breathe.

The more you try to control them, the more you risk losing them.

What truly stays is what chooses to stay, even after you’ve let go.

4. You can’t control the world—you can only move with it.

Man follows the Earth.

Earth follows the heavens.

The heavens follow the Tao.

The Tao follows what is natural.

It doesn’t mean doing nothing, but rather learning to find rhythm in chaos.

To make peace with the world, not fight it.

5. Skills grow by accumulation. But peace of mind grows by subtraction.

“Learning increases daily. Following the Tao decreases daily.”

We grow stronger by learning, yes.

But inner stillness comes from letting go—

of desire, comparison, and the need to prove anything at all.

6. The stronger a person is, the gentler they tend to be.

“The greatest straightness appears bent. The greatest skill appears clumsy.”

True strength is rarely loud.

True resilience doesn’t need to boast.

The ones who can bear the most don’t often speak the most.

7. Only those who know contentment can hold on to happiness.

“To know contentment is to avoid disgrace; to know when to stop is to avoid danger.”

Desire has no finish line.

Peace belongs to those who can say, “This is enough.”

8. Not fighting back is a form of power.

“The highest good is like water. It benefits all things without contending.”

You can be firm without being forceful.

You can have principles without being aggressive.

Those with real influence don’t need to shout.

9. The more chaotic the world gets, the calmer your heart must be.

“Heaviness is the root of lightness. Stillness is the master of restlessness.”

Stability is not something the world grants you—

it’s something you choose for yourself.

Only those who quiet their minds can find their direction.

10. The deepest form of goodness is silent.

“True good leaves no trace. True words leave no flaw.”

You don’t need to prove how good you are.

It’s enough to know you haven’t become what you once feared.

---

These ten things may not guarantee success,

but they have granted me peace.

Together, they form the single path I trust:

Flow with the world, without contention.

Hide your edge, but never weaken.

Know what is enough, and be content.

Follow the Tao, by doing without striving.