Chapter 61: Living by Remaining Low
“A great country is like the low land toward which all streams flow.
It is the meeting place of the universe, the mother of the world.
The female overcomes the male with stillness,
by lowering herself through her quietude.
So if a great country lowers itself before a smaller one,
it wins over the smaller country.
And if a small country lowers itself before a great one,
it is lifted up and wins the great country.
So both gain through humility.”
— Tao Te Ching, Verse 61
Lao Tzu’s message here is deeply paradoxical and profoundly powerful: true strength comes from humility. Just as oceans are mighty because they lie below all rivers, so too do great souls live “low”—in stillness, receptivity, and surrender.
Wayne Dyer explains that the Tao advocates feminine energy—quietude, yielding, and humility—as the path to genuine power and influence. This is not weakness. It is the magnetic power of softness, which transforms conflict and draws others naturally into harmony.
Key Themes
- Humility as the highest power
- Receptivity and quietness over domination
- The magnetic pull of stillness
- Spiritual leadership through surrender
Actionable Steps: Living by Remaining Low
- Practice Conscious Humility
- Choose to listen more than you speak.
- Let go of the need to be right, praised, or first. Allow others space to shine.
- Embrace the Feminine Energy of Stillness
- Cultivate inner calm. In interactions, remain present and still, rather than reactive.
- Allow things to unfold without force.
- Step Down to Lift Others Up
- Serve quietly and without seeking credit.
- Support, encourage, and elevate others through your presence—not your status.
- Be the Ocean, Not the Wave
- The ocean absorbs all rivers by remaining low. In conflict, take the lower position emotionally.
- Do not escalate. Respond with presence, not pride.
- Lead with Soft Power
- Influence through gentleness, patience, and understanding.
- This kind of leadership unites, heals, and strengthens from the inside out.
Mantra for Living by Remaining Low
“I am strong in stillness. I lead by lowering myself in love.”
Use this mantra to ground yourself in humility and tap into the Tao’s quiet, unstoppable current.
