In Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh, about 10 major Taoist teachings are covered through stories using the more familiar characters and concepts of Winnie the Pooh. Of these, the lessons on the understanding of inner nature, or cottlestone pie, and the story of the stonecutter, or that sort of bear, were those which I found most similar to my own goals. Both are focused on overcoming some sort of self-imposed obstacle, whether that be social anxiety or low self-esteem. Both of these also had an underlying more positive message than that offered by Buddhism or Confucianism. Where Buddhism tells me I must remove all desire to achieve happiness, and Confucianism says to turn towards my given role in life, Taoism offers the suggestion of just “being”.…