Spell It: Leave the hustle behind with a 'wu wei' state of mind

Are you tired of hustling all the time? Then it might be time to adopt a 2,000-year-old Chinese concept called ‘wu wei’.

Click start to play today’s Spell It, where we learn how to get some ‘peace’ of mind when life gets hectic.

Pronounced ‘oo-way’, wu wei literally translates to ‘effortless action’. It’s about changing your mindset so that you let go of the need to control, and just allow things to happen naturally. Although taking action when necessary is important, the concept is about letting go of the burden of excessive effort and the pressure to act or do things.

Wu Wei traces back to the Confucians and Daoists of China, who believed that true moral perfection and spiritual fulfilment requires a state where a person transcends the need to strive. With wu wei, a person is naturally and optimally active and effective – they may feel like they’re doing nothing, but in actuality, they may be creating a brilliant masterpiece, or expertly smoothing over a work crisis.

As is the case with a job applicant trying to appear confident, an insomniac trying to sleep, or an elite Olympic athlete struggling with demoralising thoughts – the only way to succeed is to not try. It’s to just be. Wu wei.

According to an October 2015 report by the UK-based British Psychological Society, wu wei involves a loss of sense of self and a feeling of effortlessness. So, although it can be found in challenging situations, it’s usually more common to achieve this state in less adrenaline-inducing activities, like during a simple meal with friends, or a quiet walk on the beach.

Here’s how you can incorporate this philosophy into your life, according to US-based psychologist Junhong Cao’s website:

1. Accept things as they are

Life often doesn’t go exactly as we planned. Instead of obsessing over every detail, wondering what you did wrong, or how to force your path to change, first ask yourself if you have complete control over the outcome. If you don’t, it’s worth making peace with the situation and moving on.

2. Embrace imperfection

Allow things to happen naturally, without forcing the outcome. For instance, when you’re learning a new language or practicing playing an instrument, know that you’ll make mistakes – nothing is ever perfect. Don’t fixate on the things that are going wrong. Instead, allow yourself some grace and learn from the errors you make.

3. Be mindful

Mindfulness is about being aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment. By paying attention to the sounds of birds around you, or the rustling of leaves, or the shapes and colours of flowers, you’re drawn into the present moment, which is where wu wei occurs.

What do you think of this philosophy? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.