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Wu Wei: The Antidote to Busyness & Stress (Deep Dive)
In ancient China, Wu Wei was the highest virtue anyone could practice, tightly correlated with the school of Taoism founded by Lao Tzu.
The term “Wu Wei” roughly translates to “actionless activity,” “go with the flow,” “not forcing anything,” or simply doing nothing. You are alert and observe what happens around you.
In other words, a perfect antidote to the busyness and stress common in our modern society. You are not trying to get anything done or engage in mindless compulsions. Just sit there, enjoying yourself.
After all, this is what productivity leads to. When you do less and become more efficient, free time opens up. It is then easy to worry about wasting this precious time because you do not know what to do, especially if you are highly conscientious and driven. Everything you are supposed to do has already been taken care of, but you still fear losing control and won’t let go.
But if you practice Wu Wei whenever you are unsure of what to do next and remain totally present, the free time is perfectly well spent. You can enjoy the experience, get more energy, and soon have perfect clarity on what to do next. An oasis in the middle of a desert.
