I wasn't familiar with this so I looked it up. There are several versions of what Lao Tzu purportedly said so I have chosen an excerpt one less harsh (one had the words 'shut your mouth!')
I think I am able to quote directly the relevant section since it is very short and forms just 2 sentences....(if not, please delete the post as it will make no sense to shorten it).
'Block up your apertures; close your door,
And to the end of your life you
will never be exhausted.
But if you open your apertures
and deal consciously with things,
to the end of your life you will never have relief.'
I have to say that I strongly disagree since this feels like suppression of emotions/expression and, as such, is unhealthy. Also pent up feelings ARE exhausting i.e. far from being free of it.
Dealing with our issues enables healing and so affords relief.
I am aware that this seems not to relate to the OP, although it is this is Tao Te Ching ch 52. Puzzling!!
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
(Henry David Thoreau)
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