30: Daoist Teacher George Thompson on What Tai Chi Taught Him About Anxiety

Can a mountain teach us how to live in peace? In his early twenties, George Thompson was living with intense anxiety and a deep sense of meaninglessness. His body carried constant tension, and the voice in his head told him that he was not good enough. That crisis became the catalyst for a decision that would change the direction of his life.

George travelled alone to China’s sacred Wudang Mountains, the birthplace of Tai Chi and a centre of Daoist (Taoist) practice for centuries. There, immersed in mountains, monasteries, and daily practice, he encountered Tai Chi.

In this conversation, George and Wonderstruck’s Elizabeth Rovere explore:

✦ Tai Chi as a martial art and moving meditation: powerful, peaceful, and beautiful

✦ Balance as something dynamic that allows you to hold your centre in the midst of change

✦ The inner critic (“the Underminer”) and learning not to identify with the story it tells

✦ Why peace can’t be learned, but arises through presence and awareness

✦ The universal language of wonder and awe

This episode reminds us to look at what lies beneath the thinking mind, and to discover, as George puts it, that balance is possible.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:05:49 Journey to the Wudang Mountains