The Art of Not-Doing

I am not a patient person. 

I like to make a plan and then take action. I like forward momentum. I envision the future. I find solutions. I lean in.

Action is great when the path forward is clear, when the stars are aligned and the moment is ripe. Action works well for getting unstuck, experimenting with new things, opening possibilities. 

However, as my very patient husband often reminds me, sometimes the best course of action is no action. This doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means having the patience to commit to where you are and see how things unfold.

What would The Master do?

I am a big fan of the Tao Te Ching, the Chinese classic attributed to the 6th-century BC sage Lao Tzu. A central theme of the Tao is ‘wuwei’ or non-action.

The master acts without doing anything. Things arise, and she lets them come; things disappear, and she lets them go.

Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.

Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?

Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear?  Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?

Just stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course.

When you put it that way, non-action sounds both pleasant and productive.

Wait for it.

One day, one of my professors at Harvard Business School announced to the class, “I am going to give you a piece of advice. If you follow it, I can guarantee you will be successful.” Backs straightened and ears perked around the room. “Pick something.” he said, “Anything. And do it for the next 20 years.” It wasn’t exactly what we wanted to hear at the time. But it was probably the best piece of professional – and personal – advice anyone could give. 

It’ll be sweet.

A commitment to your work is like a commitment to your sweetheart. You’re all in. You persist in the face of obstacles. You stick it out through adversity. You let events take their course and wait for the water to clear. You stay at the center of the circle.

Things don’t get built overnight. The world evolves in tiny steps. If you’re like me, the process can be a little excruciating. But when you care deeply about what you’re doing, you summon the patience to wait.