Stories for the part of you that keeps looking

• You don't need to become better. You need to be seen.Wang Yangming, *Chuanxilu* (传习录), 16th century
• The king with seven holesZhuangzi, chapter 7, "Fit for Emperors and Kings" (应帝王), 4th century BCE
• The farmer who pulled his seedlingsMencius, book 2A (公孙丑上), 4th century BCE
• The voice you use on yourselfAnalects 15.15, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• The tree every carpenter walked pastZhuangzi, chapter 4, "In the World of Men" (人间世), 4th century BCE
• Six friends tried to help herLüshi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋), "Examining the Subtle" (察微), 3rd century BCE
• Three ways to get talking wrongAnalects 16.6, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• You wrote three hundred wordsHan Feizi, "Difficulties in Persuasion I" (难一), 3rd century BCE
• The mat that got cut in halfShishuo Xinyu (世说新语), "Virtuous Conduct" (德行), 5th century
• Two hundred contactsSu Shi, "Record of a Night Visit to Chengtian Temple" (记承天寺夜游), 1083
• The man who sang at his wife's funeralZhuangzi, chapter 18, "Perfect Happiness" (至乐), 4th century BCE
• The doctor who turned and walked awayHan Feizi, "The Illustrations of Laozi" (喻老), 3rd century BCE
• Five goals, one collapseZhuangzi, chapter 3, "Nourishing the Lord of Life" (养生主), 4th century BCE
• The three seconds before you speakSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru" (史记·廉颇蔺相如列传), 1st century BCE
• The loquat treeGui Youguang, "Chronicle of the Xiangji Pavilion" (项脊轩志), Ming dynasty, 16th century
• You've spent three years on itStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Chu section 4, 3rd century BCE
• The knife that was never sharpenedZhuangzi, chapter 3, "Nourishing the Lord of Life" (养生主), 4th century BCE
• The old man at the frontierHuainanzi (淮南子), "Human Affairs" (人间训), 2nd century BCE
• An inn, and a travelerSu Shi, "Linjiang xian" (临江仙), written in Huangzhou, 1082
• Three months of SpanishZhuangzi, chapter 1, "Free and Easy Wandering" (逍遥游), 4th century BCE
• Know where to stop*The Great Learning* (大学), from the *Book of Rites* (礼记), c. 5th century BCE
• The man heading south by going northStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Wei section 4, 3rd century BCE
• The money you can take without flinchingAnalects 7.16, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• How long could you live on what you haveAnalects 6.11, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• The tree they spared, the goose they killedZhuangzi, chapter 20, "The Mountain Tree" (山木), 4th century BCE
• The fish on the dry riverbedZhuangzi, chapter 6, "The Great and Venerable Teacher" (大宗师), 4th century BCE
• What your mother says in the doorway*Book of Songs* (诗经), "Liao E" (蓼莪), c. 8th century BCE
• Two hours to his doorShishuo Xinyu (世说新语), "Caprice and Tolerance" (任诞), 5th century
• He wrote his own funeral songsTao Yuanming, "Burial Songs III" (挽歌诗其三), 5th century
• You can still recite itAnalects 5.23, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• The monkeys and the chestnutsZhuangzi, chapter 2, "On the Equality of Things" (齐物论), 4th century BCE
• The butterflyZhuangzi, chapter 2, "On the Equality of Things" (齐物论), 4th century BCE
• The frog in the well and the insect in summerZhuangzi, chapter 17, "Autumn Floods" (秋水), 4th century BCE
• The argument about the fishZhuangzi, chapter 17, "Autumn Floods" (秋水), 4th century BCE
• Looking at the seaZhuangzi, chapter 17, "Autumn Floods" (秋水), 4th century BCE
• The wooden roosterZhuangzi, chapter 19, "Mastering Life" (达生), 4th century BCE
• The hunchback who caught cicadasZhuangzi, chapter 19, "Mastering Life" (达生), 4th century BCE
• The man who could split a hair with an axeZhuangzi, chapter 24, "Xu Wugui" (徐无鬼), 4th century BCE
• The stranded fishZhuangzi, chapter 26, "External Things" (外物), 4th century BCE
• The war in the snail's hornZhuangzi, chapter 25, "Zeyang" (则阳), 4th century BCE
• The bird that needed a long windZhuangzi, chapter 1, "Free and Easy Wandering" (逍遥游), 4th century BCE
• The giant gourdZhuangzi, chapter 1, "Free and Easy Wandering" (逍遥游), 4th century BCE
• The hats nobody neededZhuangzi, chapter 1, "Free and Easy Wandering" (逍遥游), 4th century BCE
• The carpenter who fasted before he beganZhuangzi, chapter 19, "Mastering Life" (达生), 4th century BCE
• The Tao in the low placesZhuangzi, chapter 22, "Knowledge Wandered North" (知北游), 4th century BCE
• The man who fished with a giant hookZhuangzi, chapter 26, "External Things" (外物), 4th century BCE
• The cutting that won't stopXunzi, "Encouraging Learning" (劝学), 3rd century BCE
• The plant among the hempXunzi, "Encouraging Learning" (劝学), 3rd century BCE
• Learning to shoot by not blinkingLiezi, chapter 5, "Tang's Questions" (汤问), 4th century BCE
• The mountain that takes generationsLiezi, chapter 5, "Tang's Questions" (汤问), 4th century BCE
• Waiting at the stumpHan Feizi, "The Five Vermin" (五蠹), 3rd century BCE
• The man who trusted his measurementHan Feizi, "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Upper Left" (外储说左上), 3rd century BCE
• The box and the pearlHan Feizi, "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Upper Left" (外储说左上), 3rd century BCE
• Marking the boatLüshi Chunqiu, "Examining the Present" (察今), 3rd century BCE
• Covering your earsLüshi Chunqiu, "Self-Knowledge" (自知), 3rd century BCE
• Worrying about the sky fallingLiezi, chapter 1, "Heaven's Gifts" (天瑞), 4th century BCE
• Three people and a tigerStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Wei section 2, 3rd century BCE
• The bird that feared the sound of the bowStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Chu section 4, 3rd century BCE
• The sandpiper and the clamStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Yan section 2, 3rd century BCE
• Why the people around you don't sayStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Qi section 1, 3rd century BCE
• The pine and the cypressAnalects 9.28, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• The faster roadAnalects 13.17, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• Too much and too littleAnalects 11.16, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• Borrowing from the goodAnalects 4.17, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• Disagreeing without exileAnalects 13.23, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• The small thing that eats the big thingAnalects 15.27, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• Sharpen before you buildAnalects 15.10, Confucius, 5th century BCE
• Fish and bear's pawMencius, book 6A, 4th century BCE
• Born in difficultyMencius, book 6B, 4th century BCE
• The three things that don't moveMencius, book 3B, 4th century BCE
• Knowing others, knowing yourselfLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 33, c. 4th century BCE
• The best waterLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 8, c. 4th century BCE
• Nothing is more dangerous than not knowing what's enoughLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 46, c. 4th century BCE
• A thousand milesLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 64, c. 4th century BCE
• Adding by subtractingLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 48, c. 4th century BCE
• Craft that doesn't show its craftLaozi, *Daodejing*, chapter 45, c. 4th century BCE
• Knowing both sidesSunzi, *The Art of War*, chapter 3, "Attack by Stratagem", 5th century BCE
• An army takes the shape of waterSunzi, *The Art of War*, chapter 6, "Weak Points and Strong", 5th century BCE
• Winning without the fightSunzi, *The Art of War*, chapter 3, "Attack by Stratagem", 5th century BCE
• The day at the Orchid PavilionWang Xizhi, "Preface to the Poems Collected at the Orchid Pavilion" (兰亭集序), 353 CE
• Polishing a brickThe Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Mazu (early Tang), 8th century CE
• The finger and the moonThe Shurangama Sutra, Tang dynasty compilation, 8th century CE
• Have some teaThe Blue Cliff Record / Recorded Sayings of Zhaozhou, 9th century CE
• Nothing there in the first placeThe Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, 8th century CE
• Watching the snow at the lake pavilionZhang Dai, "Lake Pavilion in Mid-Winter" (湖心亭看雪), 17th century
• The sentence that stayedShishuo Xinyu (世说新语), "Speech and Conversation" (言语), 5th century CE
• The pears by the roadShishuo Xinyu (世说新语), "Tolerance and Self-Possession" (雅量), 5th century CE
• The road that had no end*Book of Jin* / Shishuo Xinyu, 4th century CE
• Going homeTao Yuanming, "Returning Home" (归去来兮辞), 405 CE
• The place you can't find twiceTao Yuanming, "The Peach Blossom Spring" (桃花源记), 5th century CE
• The friend who understood the musicLiezi, "Tang's Questions" (汤问), 4th century BCE; also Lüshi Chunqiu
• The two friendsSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Guan and Yan", 1st century BCE
• The pig and the promiseHan Feizi, "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Upper Left" (外储说左上), 3rd century BCE
• Persuading someone by loving what they loveStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Zhao section 4, 3rd century BCE
• The three burrowsStratagems of the Warring States (战国策), Qi section 4, 3rd century BCE
• Opening the gateSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Lord Xinling of Wei", 1st century BCE
• The river he wouldn't crossSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Basic Annals of Xiang Yu", 1st century BCE
• Nineteen yearsBan Gu, *Book of Han*, "Biography of Su Wu", 1st century CE
• The old man at the bridgeSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "The Marquis of Liu", 1st century BCE
• The letter he nearly didn't sendSima Qian, "Letter in Reply to Ren An" (报任安书), 93 BCE
• The wheelwright's secretZhuangzi, chapter 13, "The Way of Heaven" (天道), 4th century BCE
• Copying the frownZhuangzi, chapter 14, "The Turning of Heaven" (天运), 4th century BCE
• Learning to walk in HandanZhuangzi, chapter 17, "Autumn Floods" (秋水), 4th century BCE
• The letter that made a theoryHan Feizi, "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Upper Left" (外储说左上), 3rd century BCE
• Why ghosts are easy to paintHan Feizi, "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Upper Left" (外储说左上), 3rd century BCE
• Playing in the ensembleHan Feizi, "Inner Congeries of Sayings, Upper" (内储说上), 3rd century BCE
• The old horse knew the wayHan Feizi, "The Forest of Sayings, Upper" (说林上), 3rd century BCE
• The jade nobody believed inHan Feizi, "Mr. He" (和氏), 3rd century BCE
• Whose son is suspectedHan Feizi, "Difficulties of Persuasion" (说难), 3rd century BCE
• The man who refuse a giftZuo Zhuan, 15th year of Duke Xiang (左传·襄公十五年), 4th century BCE
• When the lips are goneZuo Zhuan, 5th year of Duke Xi (左传·僖公五年), 4th century BCE
• One drumZuo Zhuan, 10th year of Duke Zhuang (左传·庄公十年), 5th century BCE
• Three miles of retreatZuo Zhuan, 23rd year of Duke Xi (左传·僖公二十三年), 4th century BCE
• Sleeping on brushwoodSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Goujian, King of Yue", 1st century BCE
• Standing up uninvitedSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Lord Pingyuan and Yu Qing", 1st century BCE
• The jade under his armSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru", 1st century BCE
• Paper tacticsSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru", 1st century BCE
• The deer that was a horseSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Basic Annals of the First Emperor", 1st century BCE
• Burning the boatsSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Basic Annals of Xiang Yu", 1st century BCE
• The sword at the banquetSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Basic Annals of Xiang Yu", 1st century BCE
• A promise worth a thousand goldSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu", 1st century BCE
• White hair, new friendSima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang", 1st century BCE
• Moving the house three times*Biographies of Exemplary Women* (列女传), "Mother of Mencius", 1st century BCE
• Cutting the cloth*Biographies of Exemplary Women* (列女传), "Mother of Mencius", 1st century BCE
• The wife at the wall*Book of the Later Han*, "Biographies of Exemplary Women" (后汉书·列女传), 5th century CE
• The rice held level*Book of the Later Han* (后汉书·梁鸿传), 5th century CE
• The hole in the wall*Western Capital Miscellany* (西京杂记), 6th century CE
• Fireflies and snow*Book of Jin*, "Biography of Che Yin" (晋书·车胤传), 7th century CE
• Rising at the crowing*Book of Jin*, "Biography of Zu Ti" (晋书·祖逖传), 7th century CE
• Striking the oars*Book of Jin*, "Biography of Zu Ti" (晋书·祖逖传), 7th century CE
• Moving the bricks*Book of Jin*, "Biography of Tao Kan" (晋书·陶侃传), 7th century CE
• The unclothed guest*Book of Jin*, "Biography of Wang Xizhi" (晋书·王羲之传), 7th century CE
• Standing in the snow*History of Song*, "Biography of Yang Shi" (宋史·杨时传), 14th century CE
• Writing with a reed*History of Song*, "Biography of Ouyang Xiu" (宋史·欧阳修传), 14th century CE
• The last line*History of Song*, "Biography of Wen Tianxiang" (宋史·文天祥传), 14th century CE
• Not knowing what the mountain looks likeSu Shi, "Written on the Wall at Xilin Temple" (题西林壁), 1084
• The magnolia in the empty valleyWang Wei, "Magnolia Hollow" from the Wang River Collection (辋川集·辛夷坞), 8th century CE
• The pool that was never theirsLiu Zongyuan, "Record of the Little Stone Pool" (小石潭记), 9th century CE
• The snake catcherLiu Zongyuan, "The Snake Catcher Says" (捕蛇者说), 9th century CE
• What a teacher is forHan Yu, "On Teachers" (师说), 9th century CE
• The horse that was fed like a horseHan Yu, "On Horses" (马说), 9th century CE
• The same boatBai Juyi, "Song of the Pipa" (琵琶行), 816
• Before and afterFan Zhongyan, "Record of the Yueyang Tower" (岳阳楼记), 1046
• The old man at the pavilionOuyang Xiu, "Record of the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard" (醉翁亭记), 1046
• Out of the mudZhou Dunyi, "On Loving the Lotus" (爱莲说), 11th century
• The small roomLiu Yuxi, "Inscription on the Humble Chamber" (陋室铭), 9th century CE
• Half the journeyWang Anshi, "A Record of the Journey to Baochan Mountain" (游褒禅山记), 1054
• His own epitaphZhang Dai, "Epitaph for Myself" (自为墓志铭), 17th century
• Books borrowedYuan Mei, "On Young Huang and Borrowed Books" (黄生借书说), 18th century
• Two hundred years of an ordinary marriageShen Fu, *Six Records of a Floating Life* (浮生六记), early 19th century
• The forty minutes beforeField note, coach in Austin, October 2026
• The number that changes the roomField note, in-person coaching session
• Saying the hard thingField note, coach in her second year
• Not a nutritionistField note, coach with a sports science degree
• When the client cries at the scaleField note, studio in Singapore
• The report with your name on itField note, client email, October 2026
• She read it twiceField note, coach in Dublin
• What the daughter printedField note, coach in Melbourne
• The line he kept on his phoneField note, coach in Toronto
• Two years of numbersField note, coach in Leeds
• The owner counted the hoursField note, studio owner, 40 coaches
• Where the coach's week goesField note, coaching manager, corporate contract
• The renewal moved earlierField note, studio retention data, 2026
• The intake that became a productField note, coach who built something, 2026
• The newest coach's first monthField note, studio onboarding, 2026
• What the body remembersZhuangzi, by way of a bathroom scale, 2026
• Trust built in gramsField note, 2026
• The mirror that measuresField note, studio in Chicago, 2026
• She came back for the graphField note, client who quit and returned, 2026
• The unglamorous toolField note, 2026
• The review nobody dreadsField note, strength studio in Leeds, October 2026
• The renewal that came earlyField note, coach in Manchester, October 2026
• What the churn list doesn't sayField note, studio owner in Singapore, October 2026
• Signed in the same month they startField note, coaching practice in Toronto, October 2026
• The conversation that replaced the sales pitchField note, in-person coaching practice
• The anniversary that isn't a surpriseField note, pilates studio in Copenhagen, October 2026
• Retention is rememberingField note, studio operations review
• The screenshot that closed a saleField note, coaching practice in Melbourne, October 2026
• What clients forwardField note, studio marketing review
• Referral doesn't need an askField note, coach in Berlin, October 2026
• The husband who came because of a pageField note, family coaching case
• The small proof that travelsField note, studio in Seoul, October 2026
• The friend who asked for the numbersField note, coach in Dublin, October 2026
• Loyalty is usually documentationField note, client retention analysis
• The new coach's first signed reportField note, studio onboarding review
• Teaching judgment, not protocolField note, coaching education
• The studio where nobody improvisesField note, multi-site studio review
• How long it takes to make a second coachField note, studio growth case
• The trainee who asked the right questionField note, coaching apprenticeship
• What you leave behind when you leave the roomField note, practice handover
• I asked for the number nobody wanted to give meClient account, recorded October 2026
• The coach was wrong and the report showed itClient account, recorded October 2026
• I read mine in the car before I went inClient account, recorded October 2026
• My husband read it before I didClient account, recorded October 2026
• The month nothing movedClient account, recorded October 2026
• I quit in month five and came back in month nineClient account, recorded October 2026
• What I told the nurseClient account, recorded October 2026
• The page I kept in my glove boxClient account, recorded October 2026
• I don't trust scales. I trust the same scale.Client account, recorded October 2026
• Sixteen weeks, one paragraphClient account, recorded October 2026
• My daughter printed it for the fridgeClient account, recorded October 2026
• The sentence I repeated to myself at 6 a.m.Client account, recorded October 2026
• I brought it to my doctorClient account, recorded October 2026
• Nobody had ever explained the visceral number to meClient account, recorded October 2026
• The first scan I didn't want to look atClient account, recorded October 2026
• What changed wasn't my weightClient account, recorded October 2026
• I argued with my coach for twenty minutesClient account, recorded October 2026
• The only before-and-after I keptClient account, recorded October 2026
• The question I stopped askingClient account, recorded October 2026
• Why I show people the boring pageClient account, recorded October 2026