Win Without Trying (A Taoist simile about losing your flow)

Competitions can be nerve-wracking. The more we live up to the day on which we are supposed to shine, the more anxiety builds up. What if I perform badly? What if something goes wrong?

An Olympic swimmer trains thousands of hours, just to get that medal. A musician practices for days on end, just to perform well those few times on stage. And a student practices a speech in front of the mirror multiple times, just for that moment in front of the audience.

When all their efforts come down to one defining moment, how can they not succumb to the pressure of the need to succeed?

Taoist sage Zhuangzi (Eastern philosopher) was a keen observer of nature, including human nature. He figured out that the burden of the future often negatively affects our performances in the present moment.

This video expands on a Taoist story that’s concerned with this pressure and the fear that it generates. Is it because we’re trying too hard that we don't seem to enter a flow state? If so, how can we win without trying?

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Esther Abrami - No.7 Alone With My Thoughts

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#TAOISM #FLOW #TAO

[Eternalised]

*"Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” - Lao Tzu.*

[Lev-The-King]

When you focus on results, nothing will change. When you focus on change, you'll eventually get results.

[Moviemaniac]

"I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened."
Mark Twain

As always, stellar video

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems”
― Epictetus

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
—Lao Tzu

[ReynaSingh]

Life itself is effortless. It is humans that complicate the process. We simply need to let it be.

[roydamanna]

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

[debasish.d]

"Accomplish but do not boast,
accomplish without show,
accomplish without arrogance,
accomplish without grabbing,
accomplish without forcing"
Lao Tzu

But first you need to "empty your mind" manifest plainess, a life which is as bright as a light BUT DOES NOT DAZZLE

[allschooltv]

Allow your thoughts to come and go, just don't serve them tea
-Shunryu Suzuki

[biswajitdutta]

You have to understand a simple thing, that giving attention is giving nourishment. If you don’t give any attention but remain unconcerned, the thoughts start dying on their own. They don’t have any other way to get energy, any other source of life. You are their energy, and because you go on giving them attention, seriously, you think it is very difficult to be free from thought. It is the easiest thing in the world, but it has to be done in the right way.
The right way is just to stand by the side. The traffic goes on – let it go. Don’t make any judgment of good and bad; don’t appreciate, don’t condemn. That is what is meant by being easy. It is all okay.
~osho

[bigal]

This is the most useful channel for one struggling in life.

[monikatripathi]

This channel is the reason I'm becoming a totally different version of myself, this channel is gold, thank you for giving me different perspective towards life, all of a sudden life seems easy and not very complicated, problems have solutions

[fpvillegas]

This also applies in schools. When you're studying for an exam, you seem to struggle in absorbing information and concepts. But when you're just reading for pleasure and fun, you're brain easily absorbs and retains the lessons. Maybe it's just a matter of study methods and techniques. But the point is, you seem to learn more when there's little or no pressure to learn.

[johnstutzer]

Thank you Einzelganger. Always an even tempered delivery. Not shouting, not monotonous, and yet present and balanced in presentation.

[CGBalla]

“Do or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda

[thomasgreenwood]

For me, the best way to reduce performance anxiety was realizing, even if I do 'fail', nothing changes. My value isnt tied into the result, but simply showing up. Winning or losing becomes secondary.

[earnyourimmortality]

There's only one person to compete against...
Yourself.

Become a little better than you were yesterday.

I have my kids repeat this everyday

[zovalentine]

Worry is like paying interest on a loan not yet received ~ Yiddish Proverb

[MIFICATION]

I´ll keep coming to this video every time i feel stagnated with my artistic activity. Thank you very much, Einzel. "Never for money, always for love".

[detailed]

I'm in tears right now. This video saved my life . It reminded me why i choose my path . And for that i cannot thank you enough.