While reading Susan Murphy's book called "Upside Down Zen: A direct path to reality," I came to a section that made especially good sense to me.  As I choose to learn from various views of religion and spirituality, I highlight key points that enable me to grow.

Murphy interprets a section of The Tao Te Ching.  She reminds us how this work teaches the softest thing on Earth overcomes the hardest thing. This has implications for how we think about ourselves and the world.

What if you started to think that to truly begin to grasp mindfulness, you  need to be willing to place yourself in a situation where your heart would break? Some people believe you haven't really meditated until you have wept so deeply that you have washed away the unnecessary layers of foolishness and misconception.  Ever see a person cry for joy?

The domino effect is what happens when you begin to sense your world and your reactions to it differently.  You don't simply react mechanically as you used to do.  You begin to empathize with others, to share their feelings, and you are less desensitized. 

The images you choose to watch and absorb are not just anything anymore.  You realize you control how you think and that external influences don't effect you as they did in the past. You may not know how you will change next, or what you will transcend, but you sense change can be refreshing and exhilarating.  And, you start to look forward to it.