The art of being useless
How to find value in the unoccupied spaces of life
Hey there,
I hope you had a productive week!
Today, I want to explore a counterintuitive concept: being useless.
In a world that measures worth by productivity, the idea of being "useless" seems like a sin.
We're taught to chase success. To fill every moment with something measurable. Something that says, "I'm valuable because I produce."
But I guess you already understand that I’m about to flip this notion on its head.
So, what if being useless, in its own way, is not just beneficial, but even essential to a well-lived life?
Imagine, for a moment, a world where every tree tried to be a flower.
Where every stream raced to be an ocean.
Where every star burned to outshine the sun.
It sounds exhausting, doesn't it?
Yet, this is how we live our lives. In a constant struggle to prove our worth, to shine the brightest, to be everything but what we are. We push ourselves to exhaustion. Fearing that a moment of stillness, of not producing, will render us useless.
But here's the truth: in our relentless pursuit of value, we've lost sight of what it means to truly live.
Being useless, as society defines it, means stepping off the relentless wheel of productivity. It's about finding beauty in simply being. Without the need to justify our existence through constant activity. It’s in these moments, these pauses between doing, that life reveals its most profound secrets.
Think about the cherry blossom.
It's not celebrated for the fruit it bears. But for its fleeting beauty:
It blooms. It enchants the world. And then it fades. Leaving behind nothing but memories.
Is the cherry blossom useless? Or does its value lie in its ability to remind us of the impermanence of beauty, of life itself?
Or think about the ancient art of tea-making.
A process filled with moments that might seem useless to an outsider:
The boiling of water. The cooling of the leaves. The silent waiting. Each step, seemingly unproductive, is essential to the creation of the perfect cup of tea.
Through this "uselessness," we learn patience, the importance of process, and the value of savoring the moment.
This piece isn't just a call to find beauty in being "useless".
It's a plea to reconsider what we view as valuable.
Our worth isn't tied to how much we produce, how many hours we work, or the size of our bank accounts. True value lies in our ability to be present. To enjoy the simplicity of being. And to find joy in the moments that don’t make it to our resumes or social media feeds.
The most interesting part isn't that we've been living this way, caught in the cycle of productivity. It's realizing how much of life we've missed in the process:
How many sunsets went unwatched because we were too busy?
How many breaths did we take without truly feeling the air fill our lungs?
How many laughs went unheard because we were elsewhere, chasing after the next big thing?
Being "useless" allows us to reclaim these moments. It gives us permission to lie on the grass and watch clouds. To wander without destination. To read without purpose. And to love without agenda.
In uselessness, we find space – space to breathe, to dream, to be genuinely alive.
And so, I invite you, to explore the art of being useless.
Start small. Allow yourself a moment each day to do something that has no purpose other than to bring you joy:
Sit with your morning coffee a little longer. Watch the world go by from your window. Or simply close your eyes and bask in the silence.
It's in these moments, these insignificant pockets of time, that we often find what we've been searching for all along – peace, happiness, and a sense of being truly, deeply alive.
The value of life isn't measured by what we do. But by how we feel while we're doing it.
And sometimes, it's in the act of being useless that we can find our greatest purpose.
Weekly Reflection
How can I incorporate one moment of purposeless joy into my daily routine?
🍵 Thank you for reading!
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you! I hope they bring you a moment of reflection and a touch of peace.
Until next time, find joy and stay happy.
– Zhenya
P.S. If you're new here, it's nice to meet you! I invite you to check out the past editions to get a sense of what my Teacup is all about.
🌊 Where can you flow next?
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I like this perspective. I've been reading a lot about the tension between productivity/focusing on work and being "useless" in the present.
I know happiness lies in the present but I also think there is something to be said for work that can make change. Feelings will die with us, but actions will ripple into the future, right? So if only there was a way to find that sweet middle spot. To hold both in our awareness - maybe focusing on the process of work? Do we really have to be so focused on the outcomes of our work to be effective at it?
I don't expect you to answer, these are just some thoughts I've been pondering as I find my way through life :) Keep writing! Your work is valuable.
Nice article! I like your clean, clear, calm writing. Resonating with your idea of finding balance.