9 simple ways Wu Wei can ease your anxiety
An unordinary way to reduce your anxiety and live a more peaceful life
If you want to step onto a timeless path of self-mastery, inner balance, and effortless flow, join my Daoist mentorship. It’s a highly personalized, one-on-one written mentorship.
Hey there,
I hope you’ve had a great start into Autumn!
Today, I want to try something new: I want to show you how wisdom from Eastern philosophy is not only relevant, but even perfect for times like ours right now. And how you can actually even apply it in your daily life.
Let’s take the example of anxiety:
For many of us, anxiety is a constant presence in our lives.
We worry about whether we’re making the right decisions. Whether we’re good enough. What others think of us.
And the list goes on.
Last year, I’ve read a mesmerizing book called Total Meditation by Deepak Chopra.
There, he told a story about a person who found a way to get rid of his anxiety. After over 30 years of testing out everything and not having any success, the solution he found was… non-action.
He tried everything to stop his anxiety.
But it was only when he stopped trying that it helped.
I was surprised to rediscover a very familiar concept in this book. This concept has already been part of my life for 20 years. It’s the Daoist concept of Wu Wei, often translated as “non-action” or “effortless action.”
Wu Wei is the idea that we should move through life with a sense of ease and flow. Instead of struggling against the natural order of things. When we try to control everything, we only end up causing ourselves more stress. But when we let go and allow things to happen naturally, we can find true peace.
I know, non-action can sound like a cop-out. But it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s not about doing nothing.
That’s why I’ve written down 9 uncomplicated ways how you can actually practice non-action:
Don’t try to force things
It’s easy to get caught up in our own expectations and plans. We want things to happen a certain way. And when they don’t, it can be frustrating. But sometimes, the best thing to do is to let go and see what happens. We’re not open to other possibilities when we’re attached to a particular outcome.
By letting go, we allow room for new options and opportunities. We may be surprised by what unfolds. And even if things don’t turn out the way we hoped, we can learn from the experience and use it to create something even better.
If something isn’t happening the way you want it to, let go and see what happens. Chances are, it will all work out in the end. And even if it doesn’t, struggling against the tide won’t do you any good.
Accept that you can’t control everything
Yep. You can’t control everything. And that’s OK.
That can be a difficult pill to swallow. But it’s an essential part of learning to practice Wu Wei because it’s action through inaction. It’s about learning to go with the flow and letting things take their natural course.
When we try to control everything, we only create more stress and frustration for ourselves. But when we learn to accept that we can’t control everything, we can start to relax and go with the flow.
It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it!
Instead of stressing out about the things you can’t change, focus on the things you can. Make a plan of action and take small steps to move closer to your goals. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel when you let go of the need to control everything. Practice Wu Wei and let go of the reins. You might just find that life is a lot more fun when you do.
There will always be things beyond your control. So learn to roll with the punches and go with the flow.
Trust your intuition
At its core, Wu Wei is about trust — trusting your intuition and following your heart.
Sometimes, our intuition is nothing more than a hunch or a feeling. But other times, it’s a powerful inner knowing we can’t ignore. When we trust our intuition and follow its guidance, we often find ourselves led in surprising and unexpected directions.
In a world full of noise and distractions, you can easily lose sight of what truly matters. However, if you take a step back and listen to your intuition, you will often find that it knows the way.
Wu Wei is about being in the moment and allowing things to unfold naturally. It’s about learning to go with the flow and trusting that everything happens for a reason. When you live your life in this way, you will find that your journey is more peaceful and rewarding.
So next time you feel lost or uncertain, listen to your intuition and see where it takes you. Chances are, it will lead you exactly where you need to go.
Simplify your life
Living a complicated life can make it challenging to find peace and balance.
It can be hard to relax and go with the flow if clutter, stressors, and obligations constantly surround you. That’s why numerous people find that simplifying their lives makes it easier to practice Wu Wei.
By decluttering your home, minimizing your commitments, and getting rid of anything that doesn’t bring you joy, you can create more space for stillness and serenity. As a result, you may find it easier to let go of your ego, embrace change and flow with the natural rhythms of life.
Now, that doesn’t mean you must give up all your possessions and live in a cave. But it does mean decluttering your home, simplifying your schedule, and getting rid of anything that isn’t truly necessary in your life.
By letting go of the things that weigh you down, you’ll be able to focus on what’s really important and find true happiness.
Let go of attachment
Perhaps the key idea in Wu Wei is learning to let go.
Attachment is one of the major causes of suffering in our lives, so it’s crucial to grasp how to let go of the things (and people) we’re attached to.
We don’t have to give up everything we love for that. But it does mean learning to live in the present moment and letting go of attachments to material possessions or future outcomes. When we learn to let go, we can start experiencing true freedom and joy.
Be patient
Patience is a virtue that’s often difficult to practice.
We live in a world full of instant gratification, and it can be hard to slow down and appreciate the journey. But patience is an essential ingredient for success in any endeavour — including the practice of Wu Wei.
Practicing Wu Wei takes time and patience. It’s not something that you can learn overnight. But even though it may take some time to master, the rewards of Wu Wei are more than worth the effort. By learning to flow with the natural rhythms of the universe, we can find peace, harmony, and balance in our lives. And isn’t that what we all ultimately seek?
So if you want to improve your life, remember: be patient. The rewards will come in time.
Practice mindfulness
You must be mindful and present in the moment to achieve Wu Wei.
Mindfulness allows you to focus on the here and now and let go of anxiety about the future. When you’re mindful, you can stay in the moment and be at peace with what’s happening around you.
It’s essential to practice mindfulness and learn to let go of your worries to reach Wu Wei. Once learned to live in the present moment, you can achieve a state of effortless action and find peace in your life easier.
Find a balance
Wu Wei teaches that finding a balance between effort and ease is the best way to live. Too much of either can lead to problems.
If we’re always struggling and forcing things, we’ll exhaust ourselves physically and mentally. On the other hand, if we’re too lazy and coast through life without putting in any effort, we’ll never achieve our goals or reach our full potential. The key is to find a happy medium where we’re neither struggling nor coasting. We should put in enough effort to make progress, but not so much that it becomes a burden.
This balance can be tough to find, but it’s worth striving for. Living this way, we can minimize stress, maximize our enjoyment of life, and achieve our goals effortlessly.
If you’re putting too much effort into something, let go and see what happens. And if you’re not putting enough effort in, don’t be afraid to put in a little more.
Relax and enjoy the ride
Once you have a goal in mind, it’s essential to set a plan in motion and take action toward achieving it. But it’s just as critical to know when to let go, relax, and go with the flow. Learning Wu Wei can be a fun and easy process if you just relax and enjoy the ride.
By now, you should understand that Wu Wei is all about flow and letting go. So the more you can let go of control, the better. Let go of attachment to the outcome and allow things to unfold in their own time. Trust that the Dao has your back and relax into the flow of life.
Along the way, don’t forget to enjoy the little things. These are often the moments that bring us the most joy. That’s Wu Wei.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
You may be surprised at how easy and enjoyable learning Wu Wei can be.
No weekly reflection in this format.
How did you like this format? Did you miss something? Is it too long? Did you get something out of it?
I’d be happy to read your thoughts in the comments :)
🍵 Thank you for reading!
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you! I hope this brought you a pause — not just in your day, but in your spirit. If it did, consider sharing it with someone else who feels quietly depleted.
Until next time, let go.
– Zhenya
🌊 Where can you flow next?
My Daoist Mentorship: This is a highly personalized, one-on-one written mentorship. Designed for those who want to step onto a timeless path of self-mastery, inner balance, and effortless flow.
We are not in control, and that's okay. this is something that might take us a lifetime to learn to let go, and unlearn what the society and family teach us.
You made Wu Wei feel so practical and doable. This is so inspiring. It makes me let go more in my own life. Easy to read and full of takeaways.