wu wei

Wu-wei is a fundamental Taoist principle that means “non-doing.” However, Alan Watts adds the translation “not-interfering” and that made me think.

Wu Wei as not-interfering in relationships

It seems to me that relationships are the place we butt in the most. We tell people what to do and how to be. We force our way to the front. We want to do it our way. That’s major interfering and is definitely not wu-wei. What is important to you? What can you let go?   I learned a huge lesson when I was in charge of the bulletin board in my senior community and the consensus was that we would not put up anything religious on the board. Not forcing our views on others. One resident kept putting up religious sayings and I kept taking them down. It was rather frustrating until I realized it was more important for her to put it up there than for me to take it down . I let it go. That was a HUGE lesson for me. What can I let go of? What is not truly important for me to have my way? Where is my line in the sand and can I bring it closer to me?

Wu Wei as not-interfering in work

We’re right back to unfolding, allowing life and circumstance to simple unfold and shaping them as they present themselves. We can not interfere by allowing work to flow rather than force a direction or an outcome. Everyone has their own version of how to express themselves, and when we learn to honor that uniqueness, that method of unfolding, we’ll leave them to their own process. We can help IF we are asked for it. We can mention alternative choices, but not promote our viewpoint. How do I interfere in my own work flow? By filling myself with busy work. By over-committing. By non completing. Hummm. I get to think about that.

Wu Wei as not-interfering in your own personal growth process

There is a lot of acceptance that comes with not-interfering. I get to accept that I am aging and still choose to support my body by seeing to my well-being. I find friendship and support by participating in the arena of the online world. I can accept that my life is going in cycles and there is nothing I can do but be aware and adjust and shape things as they come. And you see, not-interfering  is truly about allowing life to unfold.

I can do that. Can you?

To Sing a Deeper Song consider:

 Unfolding an the Wu Wei of Not-Forcing

Unfolding an the Wu Wei of Not-Obstruction

How To Identify and Release Your Restrictive Ways

Are You a Gift Person

What is Your Personal Promise?

One of the translations of the Taoist principle “wu-wei” in not-obstructing. I wondered how that applied to my life.

What do I obstruct in my life?

Hinder, thwart, block, impede. Why would I want to do anything like that to my life, or to my friends or in my work? I am not certain how I obstruct my own life because I never thought about it before. How do I hinder, thwart, block, impede my own life?

I obstruct my life through missed opportunities

I like that I’m a bit impulsive. It means I sign up for a course that peaks my interest rather than waiting until the deadline passes. It means I read three translations of the Taoist principle “wu-wei” and write a blog post series to figure out how I can apply them to my life. Sometimes my shy-nes kicks in and I miss an opportunity to connect. Sometime I have to get creative around money in order to take advantage of an opportunity. You can miss an opportunity by spending too much time debating its merits. You can miss an opportunity by organic mistiming. I was lucky to get in on the ground floor of two platforms I wanted and got the subsequent upgrades free. What kind of opportunities do you feel you are missing and what will you do to change that?

I obstruct my life by not learning what I need to break through

I don’t exactly obstruct my life by not learning, but I do slow myself down by not learning certain steps. It all has to do with technical stuff. There is a huge hesitation, a putting off, that comes when I need to figure out something new technically. I sometime put off the task. Invariably, it is nuch simpler to step up to the plate and learn what I need to learn. I will get more done if I don’t obstruct my next learning step through apprehension or dread of learning something i perceive is difficult..

I obstruct my life by not cultivation friendships

As the Deeper Song Community continues to gather, I am encouraging and engaging in 1:1 conversation and loving it. We are already connected though the community or an online class that we share. It gives me an opportunity to establish a personal relationship with someone new in some part of the world and Skiype makes it feel like we just had a cup of tea together. I had to change tribes in order to meet these like-minded and awesomely relevant people who are deeply in service. We support and encourage each other. Are you in the right tribe? Do you have an active plan to cultivate relationships?

I obstruct my life by not believing in myself

This is huge. Remember the little train “I think I can, I know I can!” You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe you deserve the good stuff and you have to believe it is possible. Otherwise, you are allowing those beliefs and self-doubts to obstruct you and your potential. Start an Acknowledgment List. Write down the nice things people say about you along with their name and date. When you feel uncertain go read your list. Tracking your feedback is not egotistical, it is a way to chose to change. It is a barometer of how you are or are not impacting the world around you. Look at the good stuff you are doing and go do more. Believe you can and you will.

Why do I obstruct?

The first thing that comes to mind is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of not doing it “right.” Fear of being different. Fear of being loved. I have a feeling that fear is the major reason we set up any sort of obstructions. Give some thought to that and see what shows up. I have to watch the barriers I put up as I get older and things get a bit more physicaly challenging. My response is to reverse this aging process by more exercise and healthier eating. Identify your obstruction and see what steps you can take to remove it.

Wu-Wei is not just “non-doing” it is “not-obstructing.” See how that awareness changes your life.

To Sing a Deeper Song consider:

Unfolding an the Wu Wei of Not-Forcing

Unfolding an the Wu Wei of Not-Interfering

Do You Need a New Tribe

Where Do You Get Your Feelings of  Self-Worth?

How To Set Values Boundaries That Express Your Self Love

What does it mean to allow life to unfold? What do you do? What do you not do? If we look at the Taoist principle of wu-wei we can begin to identify some specific steps.

Wu Wei means non-action, non-doing.

No, it doesn’t mean sitting around all do. Another translation is “not-forcing.” Now that’s interesting, isn’t it? What do you try to force throughout your day? What would change if you embraced the wu-wei of not-forcing?

Wu-Wei of not-forcing in relationships

Relationships are about compromise. Give a little. Take a litte. Ideally. How can you live the principle of we-wei, not-forcing, in your interactions with others?.

The most powerful concept in relationships is “I am you.” What is our highest good? What can we do for each other? How is our whole bigger than the sum of our parts?

In your enthusiasm, in your need for companionship, support, and attention, how do you force your relationships?  When my needs were not being met, my choice was to change tribes, and move in an on-line environment that is like-minded, where people bring support and encouragement and enthusiasm. Knowing what you need and want and finding people all over the world to give you that, helps you be fulfilled without forcing your opinions, values, needs and wants into the relationships closest to you.

Wu-Wei of mot-forcing in your work

There are some things about your work that you love and other aspects not so much. The wu-wei of not-forcing as it applies to work is not about procrastination, or forcing yourself to do something you don’t like. It’s about allowing circumstances to unfold.

For instance, I had an idea for a course. It began as a 21-day mini-ecourse. Then it evolved into an ebook. Then it expanded into a 31-day on-line course. Now I will turn it into a short video course.   Those changes in shape occurred as I immersed myself in the material and uncovered ways I could help people learn the system I had designed. If I had a deadline, it would never have had time to evolve. If I had intended it for a piece of income in a certain quarter, it would have stopped short of its full potential. . I didn’t force the idea. It organically asked to be shaped the way it was. Can you give your projects time to unfold? Can you give yourself enough time to explore the alternatives and variations that show up? That’s wu-wei, not forcing ideas to unfold until they are ready.

Wu-Wei of mot-forcing in personal growth

There is no way you can force personal growth. Actually, you may need to develop patience around the proces. As I watch the cycles of my life, I see that things happen only when they are ready to happen. When I am ready, it happens. When I am not ready it dos not happen. When I understand that, when I accept that, when I learn to recognize my personal growth cycles, I become more accepting of my own unfolding process. You cannot force yourself to grow. You cannot force yourself to chage.l However, you can encourage yourself to both grow and change. You can allow change and growth to happen.

Wu-Wei of not-forcing in making choices

Not making a choice is a choice. Thank about that for a minute. How do I appy the wu-wei of not-forcing to my choices? By being in the moment. By responding from the depth of my being. By looking at choices as opportunities to experiment, to explore rather than see it as a cast iron path I must take. As you become more tuned into yourself you will begin to honor your urges and allow your choices to unfold.

For instance, one day I wanted to learn something. That was my urge. I wanted to uncover a new application for a principle that intrigued me. I was reading The Way of Tao by Alan Watts and came to his explanation of the Taoist principle of wu-wei. He used three words to translate wu-wei that so deeply resonated with me that I immediately sat down and wrote this three-part series. As I explore, I understand how using those three different words can bring me a deeper understanding of this powerful Taoist principle. Follow your urges and see where they lead you. It’s an adventurous way to live.

What are you forcing? Can you release your need to control and learn to simply shape things as they come? Can you accept what shows up as being perfect – for here and now – for you? What do you need to let go? What part of you do need to change? Can you embrace the principle of wu-wei as “not-forcing?

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider

Unfolding and the Wu Wei of Nom-Obstructing

Unfolding and the Wu Wei of Not-Interfering

I Am You

How Not to Make Plans

The Cycle of Moving Forward