I plan to win by giving up

Title sounds like a scam? Well, read on, I think you will agree by the end of it.

But wait, what’s the context here?
Well, see, I’m tired of overthinking, over-planing and in general, failing to be as action oriented as I want to be.

This is probably one of those things that heavily depends on your character and how you fall into a certain category. For me? I’m definitely in that one where you plan so much, you just want to quit by the time you are done planning.

Sounds worse than it is. At the end of the day, we all fall in different buckets. It is what it is. Live long enough, you might discover who you are.

Know thyself.

Or so they say.

But wait, what does that have to do with giving up and winning?

Well, it’s wu wei or “trying without trying”. (Tao Te Ching is a recommended read)

I think Alan Watts’ definition applies here better:

The principle of not forcing.

It’s one of these concepts that kind of makes sense. It’s clear and fuzzy at the same time. Until you actually reach a situation where it hits you.

I think wu wei can be glimpsed looking back. (hear me out)

Every single one of us has had a time where you are kind just being yourself. Moving forward on something, not so much doing it consciously or trying. More like play, more like intuition. Usually, you don’t realise it while it’s happening, you’re not aware - or if you are, you aren’t really in control, you are following your intuition.

It’s a bit like having a good run in a game. You just go as long as it lasts. It’s a bit like that, but on a larger scale. Not just in the zone and at the moment, but in a groove - going in a direction.

At least, that’s my interpretation. I’ve had it happen a few times. As it is with most things, you don’t realise the extend of what is happening only after it is over. And to be fair, if you are hyper aware, the whole thing will probably not work. Trying hard to be wu wei, paradoxically, is not wu wei.

What does that have to do with winning, you say? Well, my definition of winning for this scope is achieving my goals. As many and as different as they might be.

In simple terms: No one likes things that feel forced.

Am I doing that? Yeah, naturally. And thanks to my overanalysing nature I’m painfully aware of it. But let’s be real - everyone does it. Some are just unaware. (blessed are the ignorant)

So what now?

The experiment begins!