Why Do We All Worry Too Much, and What Can Tao Teach Us?

Indeed, in today’s professional and career management world, we tend to worry more and more. The fast-changing job market, the coronavirus, the inflation, the rental estate prices, uncertain career paths…

But life doesn’t need to look like this! In fact, the beautiful philosophy and lifestyle of the East might give you a different perspective on life and help you stop grinding and worrying about your career development.

Notably, what makes this topic especially relevant today is that modern careers increasingly reward adaptability over rigid planning. Adjusting to this shift is really a matter of learning how to develop self-awareness for career success, since knowing your own patterns makes it easier to adapt when plans change. Professionals who invest in how to develop self-awareness for career success tend to handle unpredictable career turns with far less anxiety. The old model—choose one path, climb one ladder, predict the next ten years—breaks down when technology, companies. And, entire industries can change direction overnight. 

In such conditions, constant worrying feels “rational,” but it quietly drains your capacity to act. Taoism offers a counterintuitive solution: instead of trying to control uncertainty, learn how to move with it. This is not about passivity or “giving up” on ambition—it is about reducing unnecessary friction. So, you can make better decisions with a calmer mind and a steadier nervous system.

In the Western world, we often borrow from the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism or from the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai. However, one less popular philosophy is Taoism, followed by over 12 million worldwide (mostly living in Taiwan, China, and Korea).

Why is Taoism worth our attention? Well, this ancient philosophy might be an answer to the problems of today’s capitalistic society as it focuses on how to stop grinding and live an effortless life.

How Did Taoism Come to Life?

The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu (which is translated as “Old Master” in Chinese) is believed to be the creator of Taoism (although his existence is often disputed). 

He lived around 550 BC, and wrote a masterpiece called the main work of Taoism, “Tao Te Ching,” translated as “The Way of Virtue.” Until this day, “Tao The Ching” is the second most translated piece of literature after The Bible. 

Some legends concerning Lao-Tzu also claim that he was the contemporary and teacher of Confucius, the creator of Confucianism. However, these legends are most likely not true.

If you would like to learn more about Confucianism, please check our article “How To Live a Good Life? A Note On Confucianism and What Can It Teach Us When It Comes To Building Professional Networking Strategies.“

Why Don’t We Hear About Taoism More Often?

Despite Taoism being one of the most popular schools of philosophy in China, little is known about the principles on Taoism in the Western world. The most popular reason for this little adoption of the Tao’s teachings to the language and needs of the citizen of the today’s Western world.

The pioneer in this space was Alan Watts, an English writer, speaker and self-styled “philosophical entertainer” who first introduced Taoism to the Western world through books and public lectures. 

Yet another seminal figure was Wayne Dyer, an American self-help author and motivational speaker, who drew inspiration from various philosophical traditions, including Taoism. Dyer incorporated Taoist principles into his teachings on personal growth, spirituality, and self-realization.

Yet still, to this date, when we think “Chinese philosophy” we tend to think “buddhism.” In this article, we will introduce the main principles of taoism and explain why taoistic values and rules for good life are relevant today – more than ever before.

What Is the Tao?

Tao is the central concept of Taoism. “Tao” literally means “The Way,” while “Taoism” means “follow the Tao.” In Taoism, “Tao,” or “Dao,” symbolizes the source and the substance of everything that exists. In principle, every living creature is a manifestation of the Tao.

As humans, we cannot fully understand the Tao, but we need to engage and interact with it. Taoists aim to live in harmony with the Tao. And, follow the path of “compassion,” “frugality,” and “humility.” They believe that once you get in tune with the Tao, all your sufferings will cease.

In both Buddhism and Taoism, humans are capable of experiencing immortality. Similar to Buddhists, most Taoists believe in reincarnation. However, unlike Buddhists who believe that the ultimate goal of every living creature is to reach enlightenment, to Taoists, the ultimate goal of human existence is to achieve perfection by unifying with the Tao.   

What Is Wu-Wei?

Taoism is often referred to as “the philosophy of flow,” and Wu Wei is its leading concept. In Chinese, “Wu Wei” means “nonaction,” “effortless action,” “non-doing,” “action without action,” or “being in the zone.” When you are in the zone, or in a flow state, you engage in action without striving, worrying, or ruminating. In the Taoistic culture, the concept of wu Wei is often represented by water.

Unlike in Buddhist tradition in which you should aim to be selfless, in Taoism the fact that you have will is not an issue. The challenge is to align your will with the natural cause of events in the universe and position yourself in a way that your feel no resistance and no effort. 

As Lao Tzu once said, “That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. Few in the world can comprehend the teaching without words, or understand the value of non-action.”

How does it look in practice? Let’s say that you want to get to the other side of a lake. Of course, you can grab a kayak and start rowing. But, you can also notice that the wind is blowing toward the opposite bank of the lake, and put on a sheet of the mast, and make the wind carry your boat and do all the job for you. 

Similarly, in your career development process, you can just observe the wind: look for unfair advantages that you have in the job market. And, position yourself in a way that allows you for making maximal professional progress with minimal effort. This approach has nothing to do with opportunism. Taoism is the art of living intelligently, a sort of mental aikido.