Last days of August are perfect for taking your time to flow like a water.
Flowing Like Water: Laozi’s Wisdom for Everyday State of Being Well
Sometimes wellness concept feels complicated and far from daily life - new routines, endless advice, pressure to “do more.” But over two thousand years ago, the Chinese sage Laozi reminded us of something beautifully simple: the path to balance is already here. We only need to align with it.
Laozi’s philosophy, found in the Dao De Jing, invites us to live in harmony with the Dao - the natural flow of life. Instead of forcing, we soften. Instead of controlling, we allow. When we step into this flow, wellness becomes less of a struggle and more of a natural state.
Three ways to bring Laozi’s wisdom into your life - your wellness practice
1. Practice Wu Wei (Effortless Action)
Rather than pushing yourself to the edge, try softening into your day. Notice where you might be forcing - whether in exercise, work, or relationships - and ask: Can I approach this with ease instead of strain? Sometimes the most powerful action is letting go. This helps to identify things to be changed, no longer fitting into your life and with who you have become.
2. Embrace Simplicity
Laozi taught that simplicity clears the path to peace. Try decluttering one small space, choosing nourishing whole foods, or setting aside moments without screens. Wellness often grows not from adding more, but from gently releasing what is unnecessary.
3. Find Balance in Opposites
Like yin and yang, life is a dance of contrasts - activity and rest, strength and softness. Notice both sides in your day. Can you balance movement with stillness? Effort with play? In accepting both, we discover wholeness.
Start with a Small Mindfulness Reflection Exercise
Take a quiet breath and imagine yourself as a river. You don’t rush, but you don’t resist. You flow naturally, carving your path with ease. This is Laozi’s way - the virtue of immanence, the wellness comes when we stop fighting the current and allow ourselves to move with life.
