Taoism presents the idea of action without thought, wu wei, action that is non-action. Martial arts touches on a similar idea where movement comes from practice so that it becomes second nature. Much of this can be distilled into a simple mantra (borrowed piecemeal from Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
“Thought becomes word, word becomes action, action becomes habit, habit becomes character… “
With this mantra, we remind ourselves that what we think is given birth to the world through our actions. These actions eventually become our very nature as they are ingrained in our minds and souls. Continuing to carry out these actions shapes our lives as well as the lives of those around us.
Some say that reality, especially the social reality of a community, is built as a general consensus. Values, norms, morals, and ethics are “agreed” upon by the community as a whole. These ideals are given form through word and deed, strengthened among the people by repetition. Because of this, attitudes and emotions have power.
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