Taoism- The Art Of Not Trying
Do you feel like you constantly should be doing more, working harder and smarter? Taoism preaches that trying harder only leads to exhausting our bodies and burdening our minds...
Happy New Week Everyone,
I recently learned about a philosophy called Taoism- The Art Of Not Trying. It fascinated me because I constantly feel like I need to be doing more, working harder and smarter. Taoism preaches the opposite, which creates a paradox between doing and not trying.
“Those who stand on tiptoes do not stand firmly. Those who rush ahead don’t get very far. Those who try to outshine dim their own light.” Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, 24.
Taoists observed that humans tend to act in ways that are counterproductive. By trying to gain extra knowledge and chase external things we end up exhausting our bodies and burdening our minds. By trying to alter the natural way we only make things worse. Essentially it’s like swimming against the stream, rather than allowing the stream to take us to our destination.
The flow state is a state where one becomes the act rather than trying to become the act, for example, a dancer becomes the dance, a poet becomes the poem. The flow state is seen as an effortless action because we act in a smooth and painless manner. Therefore, rather than using force, we use intelligence. Have you noticed that sometimes the best solution is nothing? By taking action we sometimes make the situation worse.
Often not doing anything is viewed as unproductive. This is something I struggle with because we have been programmed to feel like we should be constantly working and doing something productive. This is the hustle culture we are all sold. However, it is important to destroy the idea that we have to constantly be working or grinding in order to be successful. Rest, recovery and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and happy life.
Have you noticed that most times your best ideas come when you are doing nothing? For example, when having a shower, washing dishes, or on a walk. This is because a chemical in our brain that is critical to our creativity, dopamine, is released when we’re relaxed. So whenever you’re in a rut, no creative ideas or solutions are coming to you, don’t try and force it. Take a break, take some time out, listen to music, exercise, go on a walk, just breathe and watch ideas flow back to you with time.
Taoism states that we often chase things we do not need to chase, due to trying to be something else other than our natural selves. This is mostly because we are trying to conform to society’s standards. For example, when trying to be happy. We end up chasing money, status, fame, power, or knowledge in order for us to achieve happiness but chasing these things can cause us to be unhappy. When we tie our happiness to achievements, it is only a momentary pleasure rather than true happiness. We end up being on the Hedonic Treadmill which is a never-ending pursuit of pleasure, we are constantly chasing one thing or another to feel that pleasure when we achieve it we need our next win to experience that pleasure again.
My message today is sometimes you just have to be patient and let time handle the rest. I remember being ill and doing literally everything I can to feel better. I was steaming my face, taking multiple medicines and supplements, rather than using it as an opportunity to rest and recover and let time heal me. I know we all have huge goals to achieve before the end of this year but please try not to exhaust yourself and tap into your flow state where you can actually operate at your best because things are happening naturally to you.
Don’t overthink things, just be yourself and keep things as natural as you can. Try and find the balance between working hard and not exhausting yourself.
PS- this was a message to me. If this spoke to you I’m extremely happy about that too!