According to Lao Tzu “He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.”

We’ve all had those moments of being ‘In The Zone’ - where our actions happen almost subconsciously

and what we are doing just flows with no friction or conscious effort, like a well-rehearsed dance.

In Taoism, this paradox of being in sync without any effort is known as “Wu Wei”. Translated as

effortless action or non-doing, Wu Wei is not so much about ‘doing nothing’ but it is

about aligning our movement with the greater flow of life. That is what it means to be ‘in

the zone’ – at one with what we are doing, in a state of profound concentration and flow without

any excessive effort or struggle. When we are in the zone, the world around us seems to slow down,

and in that space, it is as if we become one with the very thing we are trying to do.

Take for instance the example of ‘trying’ to fall asleep. Despite our best intentions the

more we try to force ourselves into a state of relaxation, the harder it becomes. Rather,

it is much more helpful to simply let go. Staring at the clock working out how many hours sleep you

can still get or trying to ‘will’ yourself unconscious by thinking about being asleep

doesn’t work and won’t do you any good. Simply observing our thoughts as they come and go enables

us to surrender and relax as we slowly drift off in a daze. If we tune in and follow our bodies,

things get done effectively, efficiently and without extra effort. If we go against them,

it takes extra time and energy to get things done and in some cases nothing will get done,

no matter how hard we try.

One can practice Wu Wei in many ways but one of the better ways is to let go of your desire

to rush things. Every time we want something, we want it at the drop of a hat. If your goal

is to start a new business and achieve financial independence, you want those clients to come now.

There is an energy of impatience that fuels our busy minds and prevents us from being present in

the moment. No matter how hard you try, there is no way that success will instantly come knocking

on your door. There is always a necessary process involved, which cannot be rushed or concentrated.

If you want to succeed, it is your duty to release those impulses and let the Tao do its work. This

natural flow of things, not only applies to our goals and visions in the professional realm - it

literally influences every aspect of our lives. If you want to become better at any skill there

will always be a series of necessary steps that you’ll need to undertake. The most precious things

cannot be attained through shortcuts. Of course, this doesn’t mean that by passively letting go

everything will fall in your lap. On the contrary, taking action is vital to achieving anything,

but it can’t come in isolation. Your actions need to be coupled with an acknowledgement

of the natural course of things. Nothing can happen earlier or later than it should have.