Letting Go And Wu Wei

Wu Wei, Chinese for "effortless action", is this ancient concept about being in alignment with the natural flow of life. Today it's often called, "letting go" or "being in the moment". 

Wu Wei emphasizes the idea that by releasing personal desires, preconceived notions, and the need for control, we can achieve harmony with the Dao. The Dao or Tao (spelled with a “T” in some instances) is supposed to be this fundamental force that underlies and unifies everything.  It's a fascinating and very relatable idea, especially if you sit back, watch the world happen, and then observe how you and I organically fall into place with it.

A great example is in sports, where athletes find themselves "being in the zone". Many describe it as not overthinking and taking a mental back seat to the events at the moment.  This article also does a great job of explaining it.

I can personally tell you, I've experienced it. Many times. 

I would imagine you and many others have as well. When it happens, actions seem to be flawless, no matter what. Things happen and there is this flow or movement where a task, whatever it may be, shifts from arduous focus to an almost passive participation.

It's almost blissful.

You Can't Make Wu Wei Happen

This is where things get a little…odd.

To achieve "effortless action" (Wu Wei / Letting Go), it can't be done by any personal force or a specific sequence of actions. Even wanting or desiring it to happen seems to push it away. Much of modern life, in contrast, reinforces relentless effort and the forceful pursuit of goals.  I know from early childhood, I was ingrained with the belief that hard work and determination are the keys to achievement. Mind you, this is not a bad thing, but it’s not Wu Wei.

Nonetheless, this kind of conditioning often leads to trying to control and manipulate outcomes. The educational system, career development, and much of our communities emphasize this. We're left with a mentality that encourages the constant pushing against resistance to achieve our objectives.

In truth, from what I’ve discovered, it's less about pushing and striving, and more about knowing WHEN TO ACT. Wu Wei suggests that true mastery lies in knowing when to do something and when to let go. It's about allowing events to unfold naturally rather than trying to manipulate every aspect.

Wu Wei Does And Will Happen

No one is saying not to do anything. I'm definitely not suggesting that irresponsibility and laziness will lead to success. 

However, in pursuing a thing (a job, a lover, financial abundance, more friends…), forcing that thing to happen and materialize often has the opposite effect.  Inc Magazine posted an article that explores how forcing an outcome doesn't work.

It appears that Wu Wei happens from unlearning this habit of trying to push a certain outcome. Instead, a shift toward acceptance, adaptability, and a recognition that "less is often more" brings about this effortless-action-harmony. I'm talking about understanding the ebb and flow of life.

There is a time to allow something to happen and be receptive. There is also a time to take action. It's through this balance of leaving things alone and knowing when to do something where Wu Wei is achieved.

Effortless Action Is Everywhere

A casual observation in the natural world exemplifies the concept of Wu Wei.

Take a gentle river for example. Its water follows the path of least resistance, meandering through landscapes with grace. It doesn't force its way through obstacles but instead navigates around them.

The flight of birds is another. Birds soar through the sky with ease, riding currents and adjusting their wings in perfect connection with the air, finding balance in the ever-changing currents of the sky.

In the plant kingdom, the growth of a bamboo shoot provides yet another illustration. Bamboo is known for its remarkable strength and flexibility, yet it grows in a gradual and unforced manner. The bamboo shoot doesn't resist the soil or forcefully push its way upward but rather follows its own rhythm.

Survival Can Be Wu Wei As Well

Violence and threats happen. That too can be released and let go. 

Sounds insane? Hear me out. 

Should a life-threatening event take place, it's then the "fight or flight" instincts take over. While the mind can be used to strategically make quick decisions, generally the body automatically fights for survival and flees until safety is restored. 

That is Wu Wei in action.

However, should fear and panic appear, Wu Wei is often lost. 

Consider a person drowning in the water.

The body can swim or at minimum float on its own. However, should fear of death takes over, it interferes with the body's natural survival instincts.

Whenever a lifeguard attempts to rescue someone drowning, they wait until that person stops struggling. Why? Because at some point there is a final, inner acceptance from the one drowning that this is happening. There is an eventual allowance of what is, even it means the end.

It’s in this moment a lifeguard can pull the drowning individual out of the water. However, if the rescue were to happen a moment sooner, there would be a confused fight against that person's fear. Flailing arms, clenching hands, and wild movements would make the rescue far more difficult, possibly endangering the lifeguard’s own life.

Yes, even the macabre can be Wu Wei.

Wanting Makes Things More Difficult

It's been said that at our core, we all desire freedom. 

However, there are things we all strive for (precious items like cars, homes, clothing, or circumstances and conditions that produce a feeling of comfort, success, etc).. This is not a bad thing, but when we cannot enjoy the present moment, just as it is, we become attached and reliant upon the things to provide happiness, peace, etc. 

Having such attachments instead prolongs enjoyment and all that comes with it. Wanting something so much paradoxically hinders it from coming to pass.

I know it's kind of crazy. How does obsessively wanting something push it away?

This is because that kind of fixation often obscures our ability to focus properly, leading to a perpetual state of longing and dissatisfaction. It's also stress-inducing, exhausting, and mentally depressive

One example from the field of psychology is the concept of the "hedonic treadmill."

This theory suggests that humans tend to adapt to changes in their circumstances. As such the pursuit of happiness through material possessions or achievements becomes an endless cycle.  Studies have shown that individuals who place excessive importance on external markers of success, such as wealth or status, often experience diminishing returns in terms of their overall well-being. In contrast, those who do not tend to experience greater overall happiness.

The irony is that those who let go of wanting to get things, more often than not, end up getting what they desired, or realize it wasn't worth pursuing to begin with.

In My Opinion, Wu Wei Happens When You Are Not Stressed

Being attached to outcomes can be stressful. The more agitated we become, the more likely we'll make poor choices. It's been seen time and time again. 

If that holds true, then the reverse (freedom from wanting) produces the opposite result (a relaxed state of mind allowing for better decisions). 

That appears to be when Wu Wei has the highest chance of happening. 

Do any kind of search online about stress and how it affects overall performance and health. The more stress a person experiences, the less precise and focused their actions are.

I believe the goal is to be at ease more often than not, remaining in that state while doing what is necessary to achieve whatever we each desire. Do that, and life turns magical.

Learn To Just Be

If you're like I was, constantly moving and feeling the need to do something,, this may initially sound difficult, if not impossible. However, once you embrace it, amazingly you get more done and with far less stress. This also takes practice, so keep at it. 

I've found that to enter Wu Wei, one should be receptive, but fully aware, being in the present moment.  What does that mean?

It's essentially accepting the idea that you're fine exactly where you are right now.

I get it. That seems weird. How can anyone be happy in a present situation like poverty or pain?

It's less about being happy because of what may be happening,, and more about admitting that whatever is happening, just is.

Acknowledging what is in front of you doesn’t mean you have to approve or disapprove. Think of it as a way of ejecting yourself from whatever may be unfolding and observing it without opinion or judgment.

The more we can get out of our own way, the more Wu Wei happens.