Image courtesy of Wili Hybrid
Our western puritan work ethic has taught us that hard work, industry, struggle and effort are necessary prerequisites for achievement. I respectfully but passionately disagree. In fact, I believe that the opposite is true, that struggle and effort are vices, unhealthy addictions and pathologies. They only tire us out with struggle and they get us nowhere, like the fly caught in the spider’s web enmeshes itself all the more by its attempts to work its way out.
The Taoist notion of ‘Wu Wei’ refers to a state of action where there is little activity on our part, and yet a great deal gets done. Wu Wei is not apathy or passivity. It is not laziness or torpor. It is like swimming with the current, sawing wood in the direction of the grain or sailing with the wind. There is action, but little effort. In other words, it is ‘going with the flow.’
The world can be ruled by letting things run their course; it cannot be ruled by interfering. (Lao Tse)
Using intuition
Lao Tze, the semi-mythical writer of the classic Taoist text, the Tao Te Ching, tells us that we should be quiet and open to hearing our own inner voice, and receptive to the natural way of things. Our thinking mind is to be subordinated to our intuition. When we are truly moving in the flow, it is an almost unconscious activity – it just feels right; we simply know when we are doing the best thing. This is in stark contrast to the endless worry and mental gymnastics many of us subject ourselves to day after day. Stop – calm down, close your eyes, empty your mind, and listen to that still, small voice inside.
Letting go
Our obsessive tendency to seek control and influence over our environment and our future are in stark opposition to the fundamental principal of Wu Wei. The feeling that we have to dominate nature and direct it is, to the Taoist way of thinking, a pathological state – instead, we should be fitting in, finding how we can become more authentically part of the whole. Cooperation, not competition, is the key.
Using strength
Observing, learning, and respecting nature is, curiously, how we can learn to command it. For example, in the martial art of kung fu, students are taught to observe their opponent carefully and use his own strength against him. There are many examples of the way in which we harness the power of nature for our own benefit. When a sailing boat sets out, its crew uses the power of the wind. Water and wind turbines harness these respective powers in the generation of electricity. Even the strange and silent power of gravity is used in some water delivery systems. Did Gandhi get the British out of India by going to war with them? No, he tapped into an enormous power and used it to his own ends.
Those who take hold of the world and act on it never, I notice, succeed. The world is a stange instrument, not meant to be handled. (Lao Tze)
Take it easy
Does a tree grow by making an effort? Does water reach the sea by working at it? Action should be spontaneous, natural, easy and without effort. Struggle and strain have no place. Although Darwin taught us to believe that nature is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and enchanted us with phrases like ‘the survival of the fittest,’ there are many examples of cooperation and collaboration in nature. The symbiotic and mutually interdependent nature of ecosystems and even individual organisms is remarkable. Let’s learn from nature – take it easy, and the job will get done. Let’s learn the lesson of Wu Wei.
I leave you with a Taoist story which makes the point rather well:
There once lived a man who was scared of his own shadow and was even afraid of his own footsteps. One day, as the sun was especially bright, he panicked and started to run, trying to get away from his shadow. But however fast he ran, his shadow kept up with him, and his footfalls became louder and louder until eventually the man fell down, exhausted, and died. If only he had sat down under the shade of a tree, all his problems would have been solved
About the writer: Michael Miles writes at http://effortlessabundance.com.
The subject of this post is full of meaningful ideas to stimulate the imagination and spark curiosity. Another way to view life is to percieve it effortlessly. eahc person is evolving toward greater fearlessness, less doubt and a deeper understanding of infinite love.
Interesting article. You bring up some good points, especially with the whole “work smarter, not harder” theme.
However, I find that when I try to go with the flow, nothing real gets accomplished. To me, goals and hard work help keep me on track. Not because I’m a naturally lazy person, but because if I went with the flow, I’d never get the experiences in life that I want to… well, experience.
I think this lifestyle choice works for those who would rather take it slowly, one day at a time, but for Type A people like myself, I’m left feeling antsy and wanting more.
Hi Michael,
This sounds like the art of Taiji, a Chinese martial art where the principle is to divert a thousand pounds of force with an ounce of effort – Effortless.
You provide some interesting food for thought here.
Cheers~
Mark
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Just like a bird effortlessly floating through the wind. A brilliantly written post.
It does expose that stress is created by going against the grain an trying to force things, instead of going with the flow.
Love it!
George
It takes effort to strive to become effortless. Aye, there’s the rub! Enjoyed your post, Michael! : )
Hi Matt, I was reading your post. Points of view on a theme are always different. Your right, everyone needs goals and to achieve them, we need action. What I got from this post, is that there are things outside of ourselves that can move our goal closer to us, if we figure out what they are and take advantage of them. It’s another way of thinking for sure.
George
I like where you’re coming from here but I think that, practically speaking, life still requires effort. If we only did things that required no effort then we would achieve very little. Gandhi’s achievements were the result of a lot of hard work over many years.
Just as an FYI, Darwin wasn’t the one that said “nature red in tooth and claw”: That was Alfred, Lord Tennyson in his poem “In Memoriam A.H.H.”. And Darwin didn’t say “survival of the fittest”: that was Herbert Spencer in his “Principles of Biology”.
That doesn’t invalidate, however, the main thrust of the article which I applaud.
Love this stuff! Reminds of something Plato said…What then is the right way of living?
Life must be lived as play!
I profess the philosophy that success is inversely proportional to hard work. The only thing I’ve achieved with hard work is fatigue.
Creativity is born in the lazy man who wants to find an easier way to do something. But don’t get me wrong, I like hard working people (as long as they working for me).
While I agree that we often worry too much, the path to success is not and never will be effortless like the article tries to say. You’re evidence for effortless victory consisted only of Gandhi. There are thousands of other successful people in this world that worked hard to get to where they are. Even one of the most successful artists of all time, Michelangelo said, “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” In an interview Scotty Pippen jokingly complained about how frustrating it was to practice with teammate Michael Jordan because he always worked harder than anyone else and forced him to work hard too. When Napoleon Hill did his studies of the richest men of his time, which included the second wealthiest man ever, Andrew Carnegie, he found that a key to success is commitment and effort towards one goal. Not to mention that success without effort leaves any that receive it empty. Do any of us think that Paris Hilton is deeply fulfilled? I doubt it. She is the result of success without work. Successful people hold themselves to higher standards than those who are not. The one key we can take away from this article is that at some point during the day we need to relax, stopping worrying and look at what we have accomplished.
Yes very true
Life should be effortless and still achieve success
That’s why I’m writing tips to help people study effortlessly and get better result.
your friend Relax ~
Thanks to all for your comments. Effortless (not inactive) living has brought me great peace and happiness. And yes, I am definitely a type-B personality!
Every article that I’ve read of yours so far is written so plain, clear and right to the point, with always food for thought…I enjoy your writings immensely…Thank you!!!
I believe that we must unclutter our life and do things that provide the most value in order to do things in an “effortless way.” What are your thoughts on achieving a life without using much effort?
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
2+2=4. How much effort does it take to learn this? How much effort does it take to recall it? Can I make my (2+2=4) better? Do I have to work on my (2+2=4) muscles so I can beat out weaker versions? The whole world of transactions, architecture, medicine–all modern technology would be closed to us if this simple and effortlessly recalled concept were to disappear. Yet one does not improve upon it without it becoming something else representing a new function.. which we can then take for granted also.
Anna, I am not sure I understand. Can you explain a little further what you mean?
Thank you,
George
I like this article a lot… Lot’s of good stuff here, but I have to disagree with this:
“Our thinking mind is to be subordinated to our intuition.”
The reality is that our intuition often leads us into a lot of trouble. It is the analytical mind that is more likely to be objective instead of emotional.
The effort to be objective is furthered more by using the intellect than by relying on our own intuition.
So, it is our thinking mind that should dictate our actions… not our whims.
Great Taoist story -
This reminds me of another story. You may have heard it – it’s about this that is struggling to penetrate the glass of a window. His consistent struggle is near-death and his actions are screaming, “try harder.”
The fly persists but to no end. You see just 10 feet away there is a door to the outside; a door to the other side of that window.
The “try harder” philosophy is what keeps people caught in the rat race.
I like the way Price Pritchett said it:
“Trying harder” isn’t necessarily the solution to achieving more. It may not offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, in fact, it’s a big part of the problem.
If you stake your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you may kill your chances of success.
Another great article – I felt so calm just reading it. Once again thank you for sharing your insights and lighting the path for others.
Ah, yes, grasshopper, in a perfect world all would be effortless. There would only be the sound of one hand clapping. Unfortunately its not perfect. That is why we have two (hands).
Great post! And after reading some of the comments too, I wanted to make a point of distinction. Your life experience CAN be lived in the flow of life. Effort may look like effort to others, but to the person who is in the flow, there is no effort at all.
I am, without a doubt, a Type A personality. My closest friends will say I never slow down, I’m always creating, doing something, and working. And I am honestly in AMAZEMENT at their conclusion. My life *is* effortless. Living in the flow of life, following what feels intuitive and purposeful, is when you are putting forth incredible effort toward what is meant to be for YOU, and without much effort at all. That’s the distinction!
I suppose the point is – if you’re putting in a lot of effort and feel unbalanced, that’s a sure sign that you AREN’T living in the flow, and are in need of redirection.
You make the point perfectly.
Brilliant!
Merci beaucoup
Wonderful, Michael!! Thank you!
Tao Te Ching, verse 43:
Water overcomes the stone;
Without substance it requires no opening;
This is the benefit of taking no action.
blessings to you and all you hold dear,
CG
Good article!
I have one slight problem..you attributed the survival of the fittest quote to darwin. While yes that is how natural selection works, it was actually an economist who came up w/ that phrase before Darwin wrote the Origin of Species. It only later came to be associated w/ evolution. Also, Darwin actually agreed with what you say about cooperation. He says that sympathy is the greatest moral virtue humans have; that we naturally take care of each other within our own little groups, and the only thing stopping us from extending that to our fellow humans in other groups are arbitrary boundaries (borders, religion, etc).
I just wanted to mention that…I guess you could say that indeed our tendencies to act how we do is unnatural
Great article!