How to achieve by ‘doing nothing’4 min čitanja

It might sound crazy at first – the idea that to achieve great things, you should actually “do nothing.”

But let me explain.

The concept of Wu wei is a Taoist philosophy that, on the surface, translates to “not doing.” However, in practice, it means much more – it embodies the idea of effortless action. Wu wei is about acting without force, entering a state of flow where your intuition and natural instincts guide you. Believing that forcing something that isn’t ‘flowing’ causes unnecessary distress.

When I first encountered Wu wei, I was skeptical. I thought to myself:

“Great, here we go again – another Instagram zen guru preaching about how you can solve all your problems by just being yourself…blah blah blah…”

But as I dug deeper into the principles of Wu wei, something clicked. It made sense in a way that felt deeply true. Let me share an analogy to help illustrate this philosophy.

Imagine yourself swimming along a river, carried by a current that gently propels you forward. You know there’s only one direction you’re meant to flow in. As you move, you encounter obstacles – rocks, logs, even forks in the river where the path divides. You don’t feel the need to overthink how to move; the water seems to intuitively know where to take you. It guides you effortlessly around each obstacle. This guiding force is your Wu wei.

But then, something catches your eye – what appears to be a shimmering diamond behind you. You turn and begin to swim against the current. Yet, the more you strive, the more your arms tire. You were so certain that this diamond was meant for you, but in resisting the natural flow, you’ve drained yourself.

Little did you know, just a bit further down the river, several diamonds were waiting for you. The current, had you trusted it, would have carried you there effortlessly, at the perfect moment. You would have arrived with your energy and spirit intact.

We often live our lives resisting the idea of acting ‘effortlessly’ in line with what’s truly right for us in each moment. That’s because we reside in what I call the “land of shoulds.”

“I should have a degree by 21, my master’s by 22, this job title by 27, be married by 30, have kids by 31…”

But life doesn’t always cooperate with our plans. The colleague who got the promotion you worked tirelessly for happens to be the boss’s nephew. You graduated at 23 because illness delayed your exams. Your partner left because they weren’t ready for children. And this is where Wu wei can offer peace.

Let me share a personal story of how practicing Wu wei saved my mental health. When I was 20, I was studying Psychology in the UK, living in the land of shoulds, which for me meant “I should go to a reputable university, get a degree, live the typical partying student life.” Yet, I was deeply unhappy, feeling like I wasn’t myself. The more I clung to staying, the more miserable I became. I knew it wasn’t for me. I knew I had to leave.

But I resisted, convincing myself that this was how it was supposed to be.

I hit rock bottom. Enough was enough. It was time to practice Wu wei. To accept that another path was my destiny. I suspended my studies and decided to pursue my degree in the Netherlands instead as an opportunity presented itself. Suddenly, studying felt inspiring again. I didn’t have to drag myself through the mud. It felt ‘effortless’. Okay, not truly effortless, but ‘achieving’ felt fluid and attainable.

The essence of Wu wei lies in accepting when something isn’t serving you and moving forward without (over)thinking to reach ‘effortless action’. Moving in line with your true path. Here are my three core interpretations of Wu wei:

●  Trust: Have faith that things will work out as they’re meant to, and recognize that anything requiring relentless force or struggle is not in line with your true path.

●  Letting Go: Release your preconceived notions of how life should be. Allow yourself the flexibility and fluidity to adapt to what life presents, unburdening yourself from the weight of unmet expectations.

●  Harmony: Live in harmony with your surroundings. Evaluate the present moment to determine the best intuitive course of action, understanding that the world is ever-changing, and that you too can adapt along with it.

So if there’s one thing I’d like you to take from this article, it would be to orient yourself towards things that you recognise serve you, and peacefully leave behind those that don’t. Keep moving forward.

Find your Wu wei.

Author: Natalie Christovic, BSc Psychology and Neuroscience