Tao Te Ching – Chapter Eight
Written by Lao-tzu – From a translation by S. Mitchell
The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.
In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.
How I Read This Chapter
True goodness is like water,
gentle, humble, yet essential to all life.
It doesn’t push or demand,
but finds the low places and nourishes from there.
Recovery is like this too,
quiet, sustaining, without show.
Live simply.
Think clearly.
Respond fairly.
Lead without control.
Work with joy.
Be present at home.
When I stop comparing and just be who I am,
I find peace,
and others sense it too.
What This Means To Me
Before recovery, I was always trying to prove something. To be more than I was. To be better than others—or at least not worse. I constantly compared myself: my pain, my past, my progress. If I felt above someone, I felt safe. If I felt beneath them, I drank to forget. My worth was always measured against someone else’s reflection.
But this chapter of the Tao speaks to a different kind of strength. Not the kind that comes from climbing higher, but from settling lower—like water. Water doesn’t compete, and yet it sustains everything. It doesn’t force its way forward, but gently carves through stone.
Recovery has taught me to live more like that. To stop striving for status or perfection, and instead focus on presence, honesty, and simplicity. When I try to control everything—my emotions, others, outcomes— I become rigid, resentful, exhausted. But when I live like water, I can flow with life, not against it.
“In dwelling, live close to the ground.” To me, that means staying grounded. Not rising into fantasy or ego, but rooted in reality. It means living within my means. Being honest about where I am. Finding contentment in the ordinary.
“In thinking, keep to the simple.” My thoughts used to spiral— What if? What next? What now? But recovery has shown me how to slow down. To take things one day at a time. To trust that clarity comes not from overthinking, but from quiet awareness.
“In conflict, be fair and generous.” This line reminds me of Step Ten— continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when I’m wrong. I used to fight to win. Now I aim to understand. Even when hurt, I can choose to respond with compassion instead of pride.
“In governing, don’t try to control.” I can’t govern other people’s actions, feelings, or opinions. My recovery deepened the moment I stopped trying. Now I try to govern only myself—with honesty, humility, and grace.
“In work, do what you enjoy.” In addiction, I couldn’t imagine joy without a drink. Now, joy comes in simple acts—writing, sharing, helping others. My work isn’t about prestige anymore. It’s about purpose.
“In family life, be completely present.” Presence is the greatest gift I now bring to my relationships. No longer lost in past shame or future worries, I can sit at the table, laugh, listen, and love. Sobriety has given me back my presence. And that’s everything.
“When you are content to be simply yourself…” That line still brings tears. For years, I didn’t believe I was enough. I wore masks. I played roles. Told lies. But recovery—and the Tao—remind me: I don’t have to be anyone else. Just honest. Just real. Just present.
And when I stop comparing, stop competing, stop pretending— something beautiful happens. I feel peace. And I earn the quiet respect that comes not from being “better”—but from being true.
