When I spoke with friends who’d taken sabbaticals, I expected to hear stories of relaxation, creative exploration or internal self-discovery. However, the reality was far from it! One used this break to launch a new company, another completed a post-graduate degree, and a third crammed each day with more activities than before. It seemed that the very essence of a "sabbatical" (a word which derives from the Hebrew term for ‘rest’) had been lost.
I think part of the problem is simply this: we’ve forgotten how to be.
In a world filled with constant social media endorphin rushes, we've become conditioned to always be doing something, continuously striving towards goals, relentlessly moving forward. Capitalism encourages us to be in perpetual motion toward the holy grail of ‘productive achievement’. We’re not encouraged to rest or embrace stillness.
When we do decide to take a rare gap in our lives to pause and reflect, there’s a temptation to fill that time in. It may come from wanting to avoid the uncertainty of a blank schedule; or maybe it’s a result of the pressure to answer too many people asking, “How do you plan to spend your sabbatical?”
Constant ‘doing’ can lead to burnout, fatigue and poor mental health. But it also can also hinder profound personal growth, which is one of the great gifts of in-between periods. When we are engrossed in the noise of activity, we lose touch with our inner selves, our guiding beliefs, and our subconscious narratives. Our potential for development is limited.
Instead, as my mentor often says, it would help to ‘slow down and try to do nothing.’
How does one ‘do nothing?’
The concept of ‘doing nothing’ is perplexing to me. The phrase itself is paradoxical: if you’re doing, it’s not nothing. And trying to do nothing is an action itself too. What do you do, when you're doing nothing? Can you listen to a podcast? Does watching TV count? How about sleeping? GAHHH! Can you hear my cognitive wheels spinning?
Fortunately, we can rely on Taoism for some help when it comes to unravelling paradoxes. One of its core principles is Wu Wei, often translated as non-doing or non-action. Wu Wei urges us to release our grip on goals and stop pushing for outcomes. But it does not mean we relinquish our agency, become lazy or lethargic, or even (necessarily) meditate for hours.
Instead, it encourages us to engage in the deliberate, intentional practice of observing life’s natural rhythms, making our behaviours spontaneous, harmonious and organic. When faced with obstacles, rather than try to forcibly remove them, we can be like water: applying a gentle persistence that gradually erodes and overcomes any blocks we face. Doing so helps us conserve our strength for times when action is truly necessary, and not expend energy fighting what’s beyond our control.
In essence, Wu Wei is about embracing a flow state.
Wu Wei and major life transitions
During major life transitions, we often don’t know what to do next. Ambiguity reigns. We might yearn for quick clarity, driven internally by desires to have control and meaning (for example plans, goals or logical narratives), and externally by social pressures to act decisively: to do something.
During times of uncertainty like this, Wu Wei advocates not to act for the sake of it. Instead, it is wiser to intentionally not act: to stop ‘doing’. When we wait in stillness, insights, relationships and resources emerge naturally; fresh thoughts and perspectives surface on their own. This blossoming is the bedrock of metamorphoses.
Wu Wei is the art of sailing rather than the art of rowing (Alan Watts)
How can you practice non-action during your transition?
Adopting a Wu Wei approach may lead to greater ease, but it is not easy, especially during major life transitions. It requires courage to tolerate uncertainty, humility to let go of rigid self-concepts and rational decision-making, and trust to adapt to new circumstances.
Here are 6 ways to invite Wu Wei into your life:
Wait and reduce your pace: Slow down and don't rush into action.
Don't act when it's not necessary: Recognise when not to act and resist the urge to intervene.
Observe: Embrace mindfulness and meditation to stay present, or simply observe nature's rhythms.
Listen: Deeply listen to others and your inner self.
Let go: Release control over what’s beyond your influence, accept imperfection, and move forward.
Trust: Trust that new insights, perspectives, and clarity will emerge amidst uncertainty.
Go with the flow
When contemplating a sabbatical or any significant life transition, consider allowing yourself to flow with the experience rather than filling it with activities. Doing so helps us to navigate the bumps in life with greater ease. In the words of Albert Einstein, "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with questions longer." Embrace the questions, flow with uncertainty, and let non-action guide you toward personal growth and metamorphosis.
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