Practice ‘Wu Wei’ by not overdoing, overextending, or forcing things to happen, instead being sensitive to life’s currents to allow things to naturally flow and be created.
Adopt the ‘80 percent’ tradition by never eating until more than 80% full and not pushing yourself to work beyond 80% of your capacity, as overdoing leads to burnout and prevents a long, prosperous life.
Be like water and follow the ‘watercourse way’ to find your place in life’s natural flow, using self-cultivation practices like Qigong and meditation to plant seeds for who you want to be.
Cultivate childlike qualities such as joy, flexibility, and excitement for learning and new experiences, as this keeps you open, prevents brittleness as you age, and is a key to happiness.
Counter the fast-paced modern world by intentionally slowing yourself down, practicing ‘manzo’ (go slowly) in actions and conversations, which can lead to greater efficiency, fewer accidents, and increased happiness and health.
View frustrating or challenging experiences as opportunities for growth and strength, understanding that ’the high is built on the low’ and that these ‘builder times’ can lead to new insights and post-traumatic growth if approached with an open attitude.
When facing an obstruction in life, be quiet and wait instead of trying to bash through it, as patience allows the ‘water’ (your energy/situation) to rise and overcome the obstacle naturally, leading to less energy loss and greater peace.
Adapt to whatever circumstances you find yourself in, like water taking the shape of its container, while still retaining your authentic self, allowing you to flow with situations you’re not comfortable in.
Persevere with patience, like water carving through mountains, to overcome life’s obstructions, knowing that consistent, patient effort can lead to strength and breakthroughs over time.
Balance expansive, outward (yang) energy with inward, restful (yin) energy to avoid burning out from overextension or becoming too withdrawn, recognizing that this balance varies by person and situation.
Prioritize harmony in relationships over being ‘right’ by not forcing your opinions or judgments on others, instead being open to listening.
In difficult conversations, speak slowly and listen slowly to truly hear the other person, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak, to foster better understanding and harmony.
Reframe difficult or tragic life events as a game or a challenge, adopting a childlike curiosity (e.g., ‘I wonder how I’m going to get out of it this time?’) to foster interest and anticipation for positive outcomes instead of depression or fear.
Consciously devote time to not being productive and doing less, as this philosophy suggests it can lead to greater happiness and prevent overwork and burnout, unlike the horse Boxer who worked himself to an early grave.
Understand that an ’empty vessel’ is useful because of its emptiness, implying the importance of leaving space in your life (not overfilling it with activities) to maintain energy and avoid collapse.
Look to nature as the best teacher and observe it to learn how to flow with life’s currents, rather than pushing against them, to achieve healing and natural experiences.
Avoid trying to seem taller or better than others by ‘standing on tiptoe’ or rushing ahead, as these actions lead to losing balance and energy, respectively.
Perform a grounding and rooting practice, like those in Qigong, to feel connected to the earth and move through the world in a more graceful, centered way, preventing ungrounded rushing.
Embrace a sense of grace, joy, and excitement by ‘dancing with life,’ which means moving through experiences with flexibility and lightness, leading to greater happiness and health.
Actively apply and experiment with Taoist principles in your own life to observe their effects, rather than just passively consuming information, to integrate them effectively.
When adopting new happiness practices, take a gentle, Taoist approach by starting small and experimenting (e.g., forgiving yourself for something, a mini-Shabbat) rather than attempting a complete overhaul.
Create new, enjoyable social rituals, such as a monthly coffee meetup with a friend or a no-phones family movie night, to enhance connections and happiness.