Jan 25-28 Verse 7

The Tao of Heaven is eternal,
and the earth is long enduring.
Why are they long enduring?
They do not live for themselves;
thus they are present for all beings.

The Master puts herself last;
And finds herself in the place of authority.
She detaches herself from all things;
Therefore she is united with all things.
She gives no thought to self.
She is perfectly fulfilled. 

Many of the books I read talk about putting yourself at the service of others. It makes you humble, releases your ego and helps you to begin to understand who you really are. If you aren't free of yourself then how will you ever become yourself?

To be detached from all things is an amazing feat. I like my clothes and my house and my car. Yesterday I was listening to interviews with families from Haiti and there was a 40 year old man who had waited for hours for a plate of food and water. He had not eaten in 3 days. He did not eat the food because he was saving it for his son. I am 40, I have a son. It really impacted me. When disaster strikes, your world is destroyed what becomes important? Not a sale at Talbots. What do you really need to live? to be happy? I know I would feed Conor before myself, but as I write that I am not hungry or homeless. 

I am always working on releasing my ego. If you have a fear of losing something that is your ego being attached to that item. If you fear losing your job - you are not your job, you are still you whether you have that job or not. It is the same for everything you fear losing. If you release the fear, you release your ego and you can just enjoy the experience.