The Power of Emptiness
We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. — Lao Tzu
Emptiness is rarely appreciated for what it is (or rather, what it isn’t.)
Western minds associate emptiness with feelings of loss, loneliness, and lacking, while fullness is a symbol of success, gratitude and love. No one wants to come home to empty promises, an empty nest, or an empty fridge. Eastern philosophy, however, reminds us that emptiness should be revered, not feared.
We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside the pot which makes it useful.
Emptiness, the Taoist concept of non-being, is the source of all things. Emptiness holds unlimited potential. For what other reason does an empty fridge exist, if not to be filled? Believe me when I tell you that I have nothing to offer you. And you’re going to love it.
Over the years, I have witnessed the power of emptiness working small miracles into my life. I can’t give you tangible proof that it works. (If you haven’t noticed, we’re way beyond the Socratic method here.) What I can tell you is that there are cosmic forces at work that we can’t even begin to understand. And if one of those forces could bring me new clothes and a fatter bank account, it’s worth the leap of faith as far as I’m concerned.
We work with being, but non-being is what we use.
So here’s how it works: Rather than running around trying endlessly to fill our hearts, our pockets, and our fridges, we should instead focus on creating the empty space for the things we want to attract. Drawers, rooms, and minds are purposefully left empty and ready to receive.
My new theory was born from old clothes. I noticed that every time I donated clothes, new clothes would suddenly appear. A friend would show up with a hefty bag full of hand-me-downs to sift through. Or perhaps a fancy dress from a friend’s boutique would find its way into my closet. It was all completely at random.
Or was it?
If I threw away an old chipped coffee mug, a new one would mysteriously show up in my life. If I got rid of some old books, I would be pleasantly surprised by a literary gift from a friend. It was as if I was living in a constant (and delicate) equilibrium of possessions. The more and more things I sent on their merry way, the more things would flow in to fill the shelves and drawers I had just cleared out. And the cosmic exchange of articles started getting pretty specific, too.
One morning, after tossing an old, well-loved pair of house slippers in the trash only to be handed a pair of brand new ones from my dear neighbor that very same afternoon, I started to wonder if I could intentionally move things in and out of my life in this way.
Naturally, I decided to direct my intentions towards wealth. If I applied my theory here, that would mean that rather than working harder to create wealth, I would instead create the empty space needed to hold the weath. If you want juice, get a cup, right?
I opened an empty savings account and set up a jar in the house to collect coins. Did it work? Well, I’m not a multi-thousandaire yet, but I have been able to sock away some rainy-day cash. And there’s definitely no coin shortage around here.
We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable.
Many people out there are seeking to fill their hearts. We search high and low for an everlasting love to call our own. The power of emptiness can work here, as well. To seekers of love, I would say this:
First, stop searching for love out there and start making room in your heart and in your home. That could mean cutting ties with anyone who is taking up your time and energy in negative ways. Next, assess your sleeping quarters. Take inventory. Is your bedroom suitable for another person to share? Buy a bigger bed and a pillow for their head. Provide a nightstand. Leave an empty drawer in your dresser and add some empty hangers in the closet. Set an extra place at the table. Make your physical space ready to receive your new partner. Finally, create a mental image of the person you want to be there, and visualize them coming into your life. Be specific! Make a mental checklist of everything you seek in a partner and keep it fresh. And then just sit back and let the universe be your matchmaker.
Now you want to have a baby? Buy a crib. Don’t like your job? Quit your current job first. Whoa! Hang on. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here. Before you put your whole life on the curb, start with very small things. For instance, recently, I took down some old photos from my wall. The very next day, I won a free portrait sitting from a professional photography studio. The space I created is now filled with my family, looking our best.
And then, like most things, the power of emptiness can work against us, too. Think of people whose lives are going in the wrong direction. Loss after loss. Perhaps each time they lose a partner, a job, or a gamble, whatever comes to fill that space is something worse than what they had before! The flow is now moving in the wrong direction.
So let’s pause to include one important step for the power of emptiness to work to our benefit; we first need to set an intention to attract quality rather than quantity. Intention makes all the difference in determining whether your cup runneth over or your toilet overfloweth. We need to keep this intention intact as we selectively create empty spaces. We need to trust that the emptiness will attract something better than we had before.
Become totally empty. Quiet the restlessness of the mind. Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness.
Remember that the power of emptiness is also what makes meditation so beneficial. Our minds are filled with clutter and chaos. Future plans and past regrets take up way more of our mental storage than they should. Emptying the mind means making room for endless possibilities of growth and insight. We are so much more powerful than we know. We just need to stop knowing so much.
There’s one more thing I’d like to say about the power of emptiness, but I’m not going to.
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Bernadette Bridges