(The longer version of this article is here: Wu-Wei: Be Like Water (Longer Version))

When we’re stressed already, additional problems do tend to look an awful lot bigger. We tend to over-worry, over-stress and over-exaggerate EVERYTHING.

Take a breath.

Wu-Wei is just what you need then.

Wu-Wei: Be Like Water

So what is Wu-Wei exactly?

Imagine something as simple and gentle as water. Yet water is also one of the most powerful forces on the planet. Water can cut through rock. It is obedient and flexible, yet it always seems to overcome things with strength and hardness.

Now consider this: Nature does not make mistakes.

Mistakes are made by man, man who overthinks, over-engineers and gets in the way by interfering with the natural way of things and trying too hard – by battling and creating unnecessary stresses.

Wu-Wei dictates that when we work with the natural order of things then we work with minimal effort, life becomes so much easier.

Wu-Wei is an alignment with nature, it is working with nature rather than against it – but this means with both external nature – nature of and in the world around us and internal nature – i.e. our own true nature.

A Couple of Brief Examples

Sawing Wood: Sawing wood properly requires only skill, not strength. A skilled carpenter will let the saw do the work, patiently allowing the blade to glide across the wood without causing any splinters or tiring themselves out.

The Golf Swing: The golf swing done properly is actually very graceful. Professional golfers know that the power in the golf swing comes from the ground and from allowing the club to swing freely driven by their lower body rather than actually swinging the golf club with their arms.

Final Thought: How to Use Wu-Wei

Bring yourself back to the present and embrace it, don’t spend too much time in your head worrying about the past or the future. If things are not the way you hoped, look at how they actually are and accept that. Then, once you accept the present reality as it is, you will be in a far better position to act accordingly and benefit from the present rather than fighting it, denying it and feeling threatened by it.

Sometimes we do need effort, we do need struggle, we need to fight, to meet a deadline for example or overcome a difficult challenge. But the question is are you fighting when you don’t need to?

You have to know when effort is useful and when it is wasted.

The more we fight against nature, the more difficult life becomes.

So, embrace the concept of Wu-Wei whenever you can.

When things aren’t quite how you expected, is it really that bad? How can you ‘go with the flow’ and embrace reality instead of fighting it? Can you turn things to your advantage? If not, at least face reality as it is so that you ultimately put less strain on yourself and those around you.

Propel your boat skilfully, powerfully and effortlessly, sailing with the wind rather than through the strain and effort of all that rowing.

That’s Wu-Wei.