In an ordinary small town, there lived a young man named Zhao Xuan. He had been intelligent since childhood, yet he was extremely lazy by nature and always tried to reap without sowing, longing for a comfortable and easy life. His room was in a mess, filled with unfinished tasks and all kinds of odds and ends, just like an outward reflection of his chaotic inner world. Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone through the window, he would just turn over and continue to stay in his dreamland, having no plans or aspirations for the future at all.

Due to his laziness, he performed poorly both in his studies and at work. In his studies, he often skipped classes and finished his homework perfunctorily. As a result, his grades dropped sharply and he eventually missed the opportunity to enter a prestigious university. After entering society, he changed jobs frequently, unable to hold on to any job for long. At work, he was always slacking off and shirking responsibilities, which made his colleagues complain about him and his bosses extremely disappointed in him. Consequently, his life fell into a difficult situation. He often had more expenses than income, lived in a small and shabby rented room, and got by on his meager savings. His fortune was really bad.

One day, Zhao Xuan was wandering aimlessly in the streets, feeling extremely downhearted. At this moment, by chance, he encountered a Taoist priest wearing a Taoist robe with an otherworldly and refined air. The Taoist priest's eyes were sharp, as if he could see through his difficulties and the confusion in his heart at a glance. The Taoist priest slowly walked up to him and said softly, "Young man, do you know that the auspicious star in your fate is approaching? But if you want to seize this rare opportunity, you must make efforts and change your current state." Hearing this, Zhao Xuan was first startled, and then a trace of doubt rose in his heart. He thought to himself that he had been so unlucky all along, how could there suddenly be an auspicious star approaching? However, looking at the confident and mysterious expression of the Taoist priest, he couldn't help but be a little tempted.

Under the Taoist priest's persuasion, Zhao Xuan decided to try to change himself. He began to adjust his mindset, no longer complaining about the unfairness of fate but actively facing the challenges in life. He realized that he had been too lazy in the past and had wasted too much time and opportunities. So, he made a detailed schedule for his daily routine. Every morning, he got up early, did morning exercises facing the rising sun, and felt the fresh air and the vitality of the new day. After the morning exercises, he would carefully tidy up his room, put the messy things in order, and wipe every corner clean, making his living environment take on a new look. This seemingly simple act seemed to be the beginning of his tidying up his inner world and reshaping himself.

In terms of his career, he reexamined his strengths and weaknesses and looked for suitable job opportunities according to his own specialties. He no longer aimed too high as before but started from the most basic jobs, working steadily and making progress step by step. At work, he actively asked his colleagues for advice, learned from their experience and skills, and made great efforts to improve his professional abilities. Whenever he encountered difficulties and setbacks, he would remember the Taoist priest's words, telling himself that this was a test of fate for him. As long as he persisted, he would surely be able to welcome a turning point.

As time went by, Zhao Xuan's efforts gradually paid off. His performance at work became more and more outstanding, winning the recognition and appreciation of his boss. His boss began to assign him some important tasks, and he was able to complete them seriously and responsibly, creating a lot of value for the company. His position was gradually promoted, and his salary and benefits also improved significantly. He rented a spacious and bright apartment with his savings, improving his living environment and greatly enhancing his quality of life.

During this process, Zhao Xuan deeply realized the huge impact of mindset and actions on fortune. He understood that his previous bad fortune was not deliberately caused by fate but was due to his own laziness and negative mindset. And when he changed his mindset and took positive actions, it seemed that fate had opened a new door for him.

From the perspective of Taoist thought, this exactly embodies the concept of "My fate is determined by myself rather than by heaven". Taoism believes that although people are influenced by fate, they are not completely bound by it. People have subjective initiative and can change the direction of their fate through their own cultivation and efforts. In Zhao Xuan's story, the appearance of the Taoist priest was like a revelation of fate, guiding him onto the path of self-change. And his own efforts were the key factors in realizing the transformation of his fate.

Taoism also emphasizes conforming to nature and governing by non-action. Here, "non-action" doesn't mean doing nothing but not acting deliberately and not going against the laws of nature. During the process of changing himself, Zhao Xuan didn't rush for quick results but proceeded step by step according to his own pace. He conformed to the laws of his own growth and development. While working hard, he also paid attention to his physical and mental health and spiritual cultivation. In his leisure time, he would read some beneficial books to improve his knowledge level and ideological realm. He would also participate in some social activities, make friends with like-minded people, and expand his network of contacts. These seemingly work-unrelated behaviors were actually influencing his fortune imperceptibly, enabling him to achieve all-round development in various aspects.

Moreover, the thought of "karma" in Taoism was also reflected in Zhao Xuan's story. His previous lazy and negative behaviors led to the result of his bad fortune, which could be regarded as the "effect" brought by the "cause". And when he started to change himself and actively strived for a better life, he reaped the success of his career and the improvement of his life, which was the "effect" he got from sowing new "causes". This causal relationship is not a simple linear one but a complex circular process. It reminds people that in life, they should always pay attention to their words, deeds, and behaviors, do more good deeds and avoid doing evil, because these behaviors will ultimately affect their own fates.

Zhao Xuan's story is like a bright lamp, illuminating the way forward for those who are wandering in the difficult situation of fate. It tells people that no matter what fate is like, as long as we can adjust our mindset and take positive actions, we will surely be able to welcome our own turning point. And the wisdom in Taoist thought also provides us with a profound philosophy of life and a way of dealing with the world, enabling us to face the challenges of life more calmly and shape our own fates with a more positive attitude.

In this rapidly changing world, each of us may encounter various difficulties and setbacks, just like what Zhao Xuan had experienced. But as long as we cherish hope, uphold a positive mindset, and bravely take the steps of change like Zhao Xuan, following the wisdom contained in Taoist thought, then we may find our own auspicious star in the long river of fate and let our lives shine with brilliant splendor. Whether in the pursuit of career, the happiness of family, or personal growth, we can achieve the transformation from a difficult situation to a favorable one through our own efforts and the understanding of Taoist thought, and write our own wonderful chapters.