I’ve been reading Tao Te Ching, a 3,000-year-old ancient Chinese text authored by Lao Tzu. It’s a concise compilation of verses offering insights on living a balanced and harmonious life, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. This content is meant to be tasted and digested, not read in one sitting.
One of the most notable concepts in Tao Te Ching is Wu Wei, which is the art of non-doing; acting without force or tension. Our heart beats without our trying. If we are healthy, our breath happens without force. Many of us move without thinking about it. This is non-doing.
This deeply resonated with me. As a Division I athlete and self-identified perfectionist with a “touch” of the need to be in control, “doing” is how I’ve shown up in the world. Busy-ness is my signature; I thrive on pace. Filling that extra 5 minutes with that one last task – that’s me! My mindset? Play/run through the pain. Work first, then play. All work was hard effort, suffering, and/or tension. If I wasn’t suffering or in pain while doing, then I was doing it wrong. My rule of thumb: “Have I worked hard enough to deserve to rest?”
Holy Hell! Burnout much? 100%
Implementing the Art of Non-Doing for Me
Life with ease is now my goal. Good coaching, therapy, quality reading, and meditation have helped me rethink my “doing and suffering” belief system. I’ve discovered that practice of awareness and noticing has brought a release to my system both physically and mentally. Re-framing for ease rather than “hard,” tension, and pain is way more fun! This doesn’t mean I don’t push myself in the gym to get stronger, or challenge my thinking when I’m engaged in solving difficult problems. It means I notice not only where my effort is, but also what I’m feeling and an awareness of my thoughts. If stress or tension is present, it’s my “tell” that I may be over-actioning. I choose to stop and take a breath. If I have time, I sit in nature or spend time outside to notice sounds, to focus on my heartbeat or to follow my breath. It’s these small moments of non-doing that have created ease.
Today, my revised mindset includes:
“Have I rested enough to do my most loving and meaningful work?”
“What if it were easy?”
Don’t get me wrong. Five decades of living in intense action is a tough habit to soften, but even if I’m 2% softer or non-doing for 60 seconds, that’s a huge win. I’ve noticed that when I find ease in a process, project, or even a relationship where flow is present and tension softens, that is Wu Wei. This is my indicator that I’m on the right path.
Implementing the Art of Non-Doing for You
Where in your living can you soften and introduce Wu Wei, or non-doing, into your being-ness?
What might that do for your stress, your heart, and your wellbeing?
What form might non-doing take for you?
If you’d like to explore Wu Wei, let’s talk