Taoism can be puzzling, but the principles are rooted in creative living. Learn how to boost creativity with lessons from Taoism, a philosophy based on self-cultivation and flow.
Have you ever been so absorbed in an activity that the world disappears, and time loses all meaning? In psychology, this optimal state is called Flow. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi coined the term in 1975, but the idea goes back to the 4th century BCE Taoism, a philosophical discipline based on achieving “perfect harmony” by becoming one with the rhythms of the universe. What can a 2,400-year-old philosophy teach about flow and the creative process?
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.“
― Laozi
Wú Wéi (无为) - Effortless Action or The Art of Letting Go
Wu Wei is a Taoist concept meaning inaction or effortless action. It’s also been called the art of letting go. Taoism accepts that there’s a lot in one’s life and the world that can’t be controlled. Instead of fighting against the natural laws of the universe, Taoism promotes flow and harmony.
To practice, Wu Wei is to reach a state of unconflicting personal harmony, free-flowing spontaneity, an effortless attitude, and non-attachment. As an old Chinese proverb goes, “If you don’t know what to do—do nothing.” Wu Wei is learning to know when and how to take action that’s in harmony with your values and the natural order. To do so, one must learn how to let go and find flow.
For creative minds, Wu Wei is a guiding principle of flow. When creatives are in a flow state, they are completely absorbed, focused, and involved in their creative activity. It’s effortless and natural. Trying to force things and push against the natural creative process can lead to creative blocks and hurt one’s well-being.
- When your body is not aligned [形不正],
- The inner power will not come.
- When you are not tranquil within [中不靜],
- Your mind will not be well-ordered.
- Align your body, assist the inner power [正形攝德],
- Then it will gradually come on its own.
- (Verse 11, tr. Roth 1999 Translation Original Tao: Inward Training)
To achieve Wu Wei and support creativity, learn to let go and find flow.
Practice
Stay Present – Overcome the mind’s need to control by focusing on the present moment
- Observe your Surroundings – Use your creative skills to take in every detail of your environment.
- Ignite the Senses – Use your senses to explore your surroundings in different ways
- Breath Visualization – Use your creative imagination and visualization skills to stay focused on one thing, your breathing.
Let Go – Free the mind and inspire creative flow by letting go of expectations and attachments
- Create Temporary Artwork – Let go of the results and just focus on creating
- Practice Resting Awareness – Brainstorm with a relaxed focus to let the mind wander freely through ideas
Flow – To embody Wu Wei is to live in a harmonious state with the flow of life
- Creative Well-Being – Pair creativity with wellness habits and build awareness of supporting both areas
- Balance Challenge and Skill – Add constraints to your creative practice to appreciate your skills and the natural challenges of the world
Live in Harmony – Observe the world and yourself to learn how to act without force
- Meditate – Use mindful tools and practices like meditation to learn who you are to act authentically, and cultivate perseverance
- Beginner’s Mind – Embrace failure and the beauty of the process of learning and growing
- Focus on What You Can Control, Yourself – Direct your actions and energy towards things within your control and forget the rest
“The sage is one with the world, and lives in harmony with it.“
― Laozi
Zìrán (自然) - Living Naturally
Ziran is regarded as a central value in Taoism and translates to self-such, naturalness, or self-organization. This describes a primordial state where one is free from selfishness, desire, and can appreciate simplicity.
Living naturally or with ziran is about connecting with yourself, returning to your primordial state of who you really are. This is often cited in a metaphor of pu (朴; 樸;), the “uncarved block“, this represents the “original nature… prior to the imprint of culture” of an individual. (Girardot, 1988)
Practice
Get to Know Yourself – Discover what living naturally means to you by beginning your self-discovery journey
- Spend time in solitude
- Explore your thoughts and feelings with journaling and meditation
Break Unnatural Habits – Discover habits that stop you from living naturally and work on breaking them
- Define your creative values and purpose (Ikigai)
- Discover what triggers creative blocks
Effect on The World – Explore how your actions and habits affect those around you and your environment
- Zero Waste – Creativity isn’t wasteful, and one of the most important parts of natural living is reducing one’s waste
- DIY & Upcycling – Use creativity to reuse, reduce, and recycle to live in more simply ways
Sānbǎo (三宝) - The Three Treasures
The Taoist Three Treasures comprise of the basic virtues to live by in order to achieve harmony with the natural universe.
Compassion (慈; cí)
- Pay less attention to your own needs and instead focus on what you can do for others.
Moderation (俭; jiǎn)
- Lao Zi said, “The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas.” This freedom in the practice of moderation refers to self-control and non-attachment. For a person to have freedom from their ideas, they must have no destination in view. Using nature as an example, Lao Zi says, “Tolerant like the sky, all-pervading like sunlight, firm like a mountain, supple like a tree in the wind…” This approach to moderation is also about openness to change. In creativity, moderation is about having the openness to follow new ideas and let go of the need to be in control, and yet still maintain focus on a creative goal. A tree may bend, but it is still rooted in the ground.
Humility (不敢为天下先; bùgǎn wéi tiānxià xiān, literally “not daring to act as first under the heavens”)
- Wing-tsit Chan (陳榮捷), a Chinese scholar put it best:
- The third treasure, daring not be at the world’s front, is the Taoist way to avoid premature death. To be at the world’s front is to expose oneself, to render oneself vulnerable to the world’s destructive forces, while to remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing one’s life before one’s time. This fear of death, out of a love for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom. (Tao Te Ching, 1989)
Practice
Creative Compassion – Start with kindness towards yourself and others to direct your creativity
- Consider how you can support others/the world with your creativity
- Practice gratitude and loving-kindness meditation to challenge negative thinking in the creative process
Creative Moderation -Find a balance between creative work with living, avoid extremes
- Moderation Habits – Find comfort in discomfort by building healthy habits to avoid extremes
- Be Intentional – Consider the value behind your actions and habits and how they support your creative lifestyle
Stay Humble – Embrace failure with a growth mindset and grateful humility
- Beginner’s Mind – Embrace failure and the beauty of the process of learning and growing
- Support Creativity – Don’t just focus on your own creativity, support the creativity of people around you
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
