Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready. ~Lao-tzu

Sound like a formula for complacency or resignation? Hardly! Those two qualities refer to negative judgments denying the infinite number of wondrous possibilities the world has to offer.

Often when I attempt to 'meditate', in the back of my mind, I entertain the the notion that what I'm doing is a total waste of time in which I am learning to anesthetize myself --- to passively accept things which should should really be changed or immediately addressed.

I reached some clarity on this recently:

Accepting something does not mean that we attach either positive or negative value to it. It simply means that we recognize it's existence and are willing to sustain attention to it without judgment.

This quality of acceptance is one of the corner stones of 'mindfulness' practice and the emotional freedom which comes with it. When we have this freedom , any action we eventually take is actually enhanced.

Consider a skilled negotiator going into a car dealership. he is equally able to accept the possibility of getting what he wants or 'walking'.

This attitude carries with it a certain aura which will usually create a climate of respect even in an environment where many feel totally victimized.

Aside from his emotional detachment, this hypothetical individual brings another form of armament to the situation. He knows what he wants to accomplish. His position will not be easily swayed by an exciting test drive and shiny new chrome and paint.

Analogously, the individual who achieves self-knowledge will always be able to set his own course and choose his actions wisely.