In this subscriber-only episode (1-159) of Living the Tao, Master Steenrod examines a quiet but widespread problem: why clarity, restraint, and spiritual insight seem to disappear when life becomes stressful — even when we understand the teachings. From a Taoist perspective, the issue is not discipline, belief, or willpower. It’s energy. This episode explores how higher thought, ethical behavior, and spiritual stability are energy-dependent states. When qi is depleted, advanced behavior becomes unavailable. Choice narrows. Reactivity replaces agency. What feels like moral or spiritual failure is often an energetic condition. Drawing from classical Taoist understanding — and contrasting it with how many spiritual systems are applied today — this talk reframes struggle without blame and restores a missing sequence: energy first, clarity second. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why low energy collapses higher behavior How modern life quietly drains qi Why many spiritual teachings fail without an energetic foundation How ethics and insight naturally emerge from sufficient energy Why restoring energy must come before higher practice This is not motivational content. It’s structural explanation — intended for listeners ready to examine why understanding alone doesn’t translate into lived stability. 🎧 Full episode available to subscribers on Supercast.  Subscribe now at https://living-the-tao.supercast.com