The path that doesn't rush

There’s a kind of growth that doesn’t look like progress but goes far deeper

Zhenya Zerkalenkov

Apr 27, 2025

Hey there,

How has your last week? Have you been making progress?

Most people think growth has to feel like acceleration: fast, loud, obvious.

Like more books.
More podcasts.
More hacks.
More goals.
More mornings that start at 5 a.m.

But there’s another way.
A quieter way.
A way that doesn’t rush.

In this piece, I’m opening the door to what self-cultivation really means.

Beyond goals.
Beyond hustle.
Beyond the pressure to constantly “improve.”

It’s a return. And maybe, you’ve been walking this path already.

True growth happens when you stop rushing to grow.

I used to be addicted to progress.
Even in my spiritual practice, I wanted results:

Am I more centered yet?
When will I be enlightened?
Why hasn’t my mind calmed down?

But what if we’ve misunderstood “Improvement”?

I realized that true growth is not about achieving goals or reaching a certain level. It's more about embracing the present moment and finding peace within ourselves, regardless of external expectations.

That’s one of the main differences between Eastern self-cultivation and Western personal development.

Self-cultivation is an ongoing process, not a destination to reach.

Self-cultivation isn’t about becoming someone else.

It’s not a process of optimization.
It’s not a race toward perfection.
It’s not about speed at all.

It’s a return.

To stillness.
To spaciousness.
To something we once were, before the striving began.

In Zhan Zhuang (the standing meditation in Daoist arts), you stand still for minutes… even hours. To an outsider, it looks like nothing is happening.

No action.
No movement.
No obvious result.

But inside?

The breath deepens.
The body realigns.
The mind softens.

The Qi begins to flow.

This is cultivation. Not as performance, but as presence.

What if you’ve been growing all along—but couldn’t feel it because you were trying too hard?
What if your inner transformation doesn’t need to be seen?
What if the quietest shifts are the most lasting?

Self-cultivation isn’t about speeding up your life.
It’s about relearning how to walk slowly.
How to breathe.
How to be.

Not because slowness is better.
But because you are not in a rush to become what you already are.

There is a path that doesn’t rush.
And when you walk it, life meets you there.

Weekly Reflection

Am I able to fully embrace the present moment without feeling rushed?

🍵 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, don't rush.

– 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?

The Way of the Dao: This course is a structured, easy-to-follow introduction to Daoism. It's designed to help you apply its wisdom in a practical way.

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