Do more by doing less

Many of us lead life at a frenetic pace; we are so busy pursuing multiple goals, but as a John Lennon song goes, 'Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.' Socrates had warned us, saying, 'Beware the bareness of a busy life.'

How, then, are we to get things done without stressing ourselves? Wu Wei, non-doing, is one way. The philosophy of Daoism terms it as the noblest kind of action.

Wu Wei is about effortless action, rather than not doing anything. It means to be one with nature. The classic example given is of watching a plant grow.


It grows effortlessly - almost without any real, visible effort. However, if you were to pull the plant out of the soil to hasten its growth, it is bound to wilt and die.

So, what does this mean? It means to be patient; it means to not force things but to be comfortable with doing less. It will ensure calmness and will make what little we do more effective. Happiness will necessarily follow. Neuroscience also tells us that our brain needs rest. This ensures greater clarity in thought and action.

Wu Wei is something we all need to practice. Given the world we live in, it may not be practical to do so all the time. But, most certainly, there will be times when we need to take a deep breath, step back and let nature takes its course - let Wu Wei take over. It just may be for the better.