Taoist wisdom says change is a natural process. Just look at the world around you: everything changes effortlessly, without stress, without strain. Everything in life flows—one thing into the next. So why do we have so much difficulty creating and accepting change? Is it all in the mind?

Here are a few techniques to help you create the change you’d like to see in your life.

1. What kind of seeds are you planting? No one would be surprised if they planted tomato seeds and juicy, red tomatoes grew. But sometimes, we plant tomatoes and are really expecting roses. But you can’t have what you didn’t set in motion. So ask yourself this: What do you really want in your life? What makes you truly happy? Because your life is meant to be happy. You are on this Earth to fulfill your true purpose.

If you want more time and peace in your life, for example, you must sow those types of seeds. Those seeds might include limiting your commitments, choosing to spend more time doing things that make you happy and being with people who embody the change you want to see in yourself. Remember, at the deepest level of reality, we create our own experiences based on our beliefs about life.

2. True change always happens from the inside out. Grand Master Lu is constantly asked, “What is the best way to change?” Here’s some of his wisdom on the subject:

“All fear is based on the past; how can you continue living in the past? Thinking is limited; the mind is limited. You are teaching yourself how to transform, little by little. Start with small things. Do this to exercise your ‘instant feeling’ so it becomes truth in your daily life. Whatever exists becomes memory. You can’t wait until the outside is perfect to change—change the inside first; the outside will follow. Love yourself—to love yourself you have to trust yourself.  In addition, acknowledge your own feelings—they are good and true.”

3. Catch the moment. One event participant asked Grandmaster Lu this question: “I want to change, but I don’t want to change. What do I do in this kind of situation?” He responded with the following insights:

“We all have this kind of problem. When we do want to change, we don’t catch the moment—what we want to change, why we want to change. When you have the feeling that nothing can stop you, become aware of your body, how it feels, how it impacts you, and what creates this feeling in you. This will be like an access code in you that you can turn on some other time. Do you, at that moment, close your eyes and enjoy it? If so, catch the moment and continue.