Table of contents:
- 1. Lack of action is not equal to idleness
- 2. The universe is not opposed to us
- 3. A restless mind needs to be pacified
- 4. Change is inevitable and must be accepted
- 5. Aimless movement
2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
The Chinese teaching of wu-wei is also called the art of effortless effort or doing nothing. It will help you cope with a difficult life situation and take a fresh look at the world.
1. Lack of action is not equal to idleness
Wu-wei is translated from Chinese as "not doing" or "action without action." Chinese philosophers considered it a natural way of life, as opposed to actively pursuing goals or forcing events.
However, wu-wei should not be confused with idleness. This is not an excuse to sit and criticize others. According to this teaching, a person should not waste energy, but act only when the right time comes.
2. The universe is not opposed to us
To live according to the principles of wu-wei, you must first realize your connection with everything in nature. And while we must have clear limits, like the children who run and play outside the park, we must remain open and not be afraid of vulnerability. Then we can contemplate nature and feel the flow of world energy, and then learn to act in accordance with it.
The realization that we do not need to confront the Universe, that it is not opposed to us, will bring a feeling of freedom.
3. A restless mind needs to be pacified
Even if we don't take any action, our brain often continues to fuss. According to wu-wei, it is necessary to pacify not only the body, but also the mind. Otherwise, we will not be able to understand whether we are acting in accordance with the world energy or simply indulging our ego.
Lao Tzu said that you need to observe and learn to listen to your own inner voice and to the voices of our environment.
4. Change is inevitable and must be accepted
Everything in nature is constantly changing. These changes are governed by laws that we cannot change, and often even realize. Therefore, it is useless to fight change. It's like trying to stop the seasons or the setting of the sun. By accepting these changes in nature, you can more easily relate to the changes in yourself.
We all change inevitably. Try not to resist it, but to see the positive side.
5. Aimless movement
In our time, lack of purpose is considered unsuitability for life. However, modern life can hardly be called harmonious.
The Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu advised a lifestyle that he called aimless movement. For explanation, he drew an analogy with the activities of an artist or craftsman. A talented woodcarver or a skilled swimmer does not ponder or weigh the sequence of his actions. His skill has become so part of himself that he acts instinctively, spontaneously, without thinking about the reasons. It was this state that the philosophers strove to achieve with the help of wu-wei.
Recommended:
Dutch philosophy niksen: how to do nothing and not blame yourself for it
Nixen is a type of thinking, thanks to which you can stop meeting social expectations and start living without rushing anywhere
How to take a good photo: 6 basic principles
Everyone who is interested in photography thinks about how to take a good photo. Of course, there is no limit to the growth of professionalism, but there are not so many basic principles and they are not so complicated
How to boost creativity with doing nothing
This tool will help develop awareness and come in handy at any stage of solving a creative problem. And for this you don't need to do anything at all. Why "doing nothing" and what does it mean? I've already talked about six tools that you can use to solve complex everyday and business problems that help you creatively solve problems and find cool ideas:
3 principles of long-term thinking to help you plan for the future
The decisions we make today affect our entire future life. Therefore, planning for the future is important now
Why it is necessary to write "nothing else", but "nothing more than"
The life hacker tells in what cases “nothing else” is used, and when “nothing else” is used. The choice is obvious if you focus on the context