Spring, summer, fall, winter: These are the four seasons. In spring things sprout, in the summer things grow, in fall things are gathered, and in winter things are stored. By observing this, the order of the four seasons, we can see that there is an order, or sequence, that takes place in the nature. There are specific times for all tasks. You dont plant corn in the winter. You dont store things in the summer. You dont harvest in the spring. The same thing can be said about our personal lives. There are certain times to make things happen and times that we shouldnt do anything. As the writer said, To everything there is a season and purpose under heaven. Nature teaches us that things out of time and season usually die, or are ineffectual. What about the seasons of your life?

Are your movements aligned with the seasons of your life and the seasons of nature, or are you just pushing as hard as you can trying to force things to happen when it isnt time. Are you patient? Can you hold on and wait for the right time? If you cannot and if you are pushing, making things happening, and not finding any joy afterward, or are afraid, lagging, and missing the opportunities that present themselves, you are out of season. If you are not careful you will be out of time. In many cultures, and in the Taoist tradition in particular, awareness and knowing when to move and when to be still are very important for a happy, successful life. If your life is not victorious, you must work to align yourself with the times and seasons.

The first step is to be aware of your thoughts, behaviors, and your emotions. Be aware of the positive things that you do and the negative things. Observe your behaviors to find a pattern. What pushes your buttons and why? What pleases you? What do you do with your anger? What do you do with your fear? These questions and many others are very important to contemplate. And you will only become a responsible individual living in the times and seasons when know the answers. You can find these answers through sitting meditation, Tai-Chi, Yoga, or just observing yourself.

The Sufi mystic Hafiz once said that sitting in one spot alone for three days and nights without eating, sleeping, listening to music, or even leaving for a trip to the bathroom, could teach any person more about himself and the world than any great teacher or spiritual workshop. Try it some day and you will find it true.

One time I rented a small hotel room. I didnt go as far as Hafiz said. I ate and I went out about two hours an evening to spend time with my spouse. The rest of my time was spent doing various forms of meditation and Chi-Kung. Instead of becoming dull and bored, as I expected, my mind became very active. It began to voice many questions: What does life mean to you? Who are you really? What do you really want out of life? Are you a failure? This happened hour after hour with one question repeated over and over until I gave a response. I couldnt just make up any answer, or lie, or make up an excuse. It was me asking myself questions. How can you lie to yourself? (Some people are very good at doing that, but I have never developed that skill.) I spent five days and nights meditating and answering prying question. At the end of my little retreat I felt that something inside had changed.

As I began to think about my life and to answer questions that I never considered, I began to realize what the meaning of life was for me. I began to see that there are seasons and purposes for everything, and that the secret to knowing the correct time and seasons only comes by knowing yourself. Do you know yourself? If you dont you cannot know God. You cannot know the universe. You cannot know about life fully until you know yourself.

Work hard to know yourself and you will learn when to move. You will learn when to plant new thoughts, ideas and behaviors. You will know when to water the seeds that you have planted so they will grow. You will know when to reap the fruit of your work in joy, and you will know when to hold onto that fruit, when to store it, so that you will have sustenance through the darker, colder times in the winters of life. If you do this, know the times and seasons, you will lead a life of joy and contentment. By moving in harmony with nature and the world, you will overcome the world and become more a creative force in the world. Know thyself, oh man, that your dreams might come true.