6 Ways to get in Flow (According to Lao Tzu)

You’re sitting in the middle of your canoe…

Legs outstretched, paddle in hand. 

Looking around, you take in the infinite stretch of river that surrounds you. 

The water is a deep, complex blue, with a current so fast, you barely need to paddle.

You close your eyes for a moment, enjoying the sun on your skin.

Everything is great…

Until it’s not. 

You see a cluster of sharp, grey rocks in front of you… 

And they’re approaching way too fast. 

You pick up your paddle, frantically slicing through the water to change course… 

Suddenly… a strange question interrupts your panicked thoughts:

“What is the river doing to avoid the rocks?” 

“It’s not doing anything,” you think to yourself. “It’s just being a river.”

And while you’re busy trying not to capsize your canoe… 

The river is just existing. 

Now, only one of you has a chance at overcoming the rocks ahead…

Because only one of you will allow the Universe to take the reins.

(And with the way you’re flailing that paddle around… it’s definitely not you.)

The river does “nothing” because it knows that the Universe will carry it forward the same way as before. 

When it comes to Taoism, trusting the natural movements of the Universe is called flow. 

It’s how you access the Tao — or existing in harmony with the world around you…

And this is exactly what the river is doing by doing nothing.

Lao Tzu’s 6 Teachings 

Lao Tzu, meaning “Old Man” or “Old Master,” was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer.

He founded Taoism, a philosophical system, and religion, based on the belief that humans (and animals) should strive to live in harmony with the world around them.

This harmony is the natural way, or path of the Universe, which is also known as the Tao. 

The word Tao literally translates to “the way,” or “path.”

So, by living your life in accordance with the Tao, you will exist in a constant state of flow, or harmony. 

The Tao creates a sense of flow around us…

A balanced existence where one accepts what is, and rejects what is not... 

It’s an effortless action, a paradox Lao Tzu calls Wu Wei.

(But more on that later.)

Now, you’re probably thinking: 

“How do I exist in a constant state of harmony with everything around me?” 

I get it. 

Living in “perfect” balance with the world sounds awesome, but how do you actually achieve it?

Luckily, Lao Tzu was a smart man. 

He kindly left behind some guidelines in a book called the Tao Te Ching. 

The Tao Te Ching gives guidance on how to live your life in harmony with the Tao, or The Way. 

Now, this probably seems like a massive undertaking… and it is.

But luckily, our man Lao Tzu left us 6 ways to get in flow with the Tao.

1: Letting Go of Ego

Lao Tzu said, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

To me, this is all about labels… the boxes and identities we put ourselves in… 

The words we use to create a sense of self. 

“I’m an entrepreneur…” 

“I’m a Husband…”

“I’m a musician…” 

Labels like these give you a tidy, safe sense of self… 

Or a chance to flex your ego, if you ask Lao Tzu. 

Lao Tzu said that humans naturally want to identify with labels that suggest things like wealth, success, possessions… 

But these labels are far riskier than you realise.  

When the reality that constructs your labels ends… 

Like an entrepreneur losing a business… 

You’re left with a sense of “nothingness” about who you are.

But, if you’re trying to live in harmony with the Tao… 

Reframe “nothingness” as an opportunity. 

A chance to shed the ego…

A chance to be whoever and whatever you want to be…

A chance to simply be a human being.

So, take the labels out of it and turn the spotlight in on yourself.

Ask yourself: 

“Who am I without the labels?”

Because trust me… you will find nothing but treasure in the answers.

2: Humility in Action

Lao Tzu said, “Humility keeps you from putting yourself before others.”

In the “Rat Race” of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of being the first at everything.

But when it comes to the Tao, being “first” is how you get yourself kicked out of flow. 

Because the “Need to Be First” is a massive amount of mental effort. 

And that effort — that need to be “first” erodes your humility.

Lao Tzu said that humility is key because without it, you will fail to recognise the role that everyone else played in your success. 

Think about it like climbing a mountain. 

You want to be first to the top…

 And you’re ready to do whatever it takes. 

You use and abuse everyone you pass on the ascent, borrowing food, water, and supplies…

Then, when you reach the summit (first, obviously) you look around to celebrate.  

But nobody else is there. 

Being first doesn’t feel as good as you thought it would. 

Because, if it wasn’t for the kindness and support of everyone else… 

Would you have made it to the top in the first place?

When you focus on nothing but a desire to be “first”...

You erode your substance.

Your gratitude. 

Your humility. 

And you end up regretting the path that led you to “success.” 

So, humility is a practice and a necessary one for the Tao. 

And if you’re ready to get in flow, start practising humility now.

Because without humility… things are very lonely at the top. 

3: The Beauty of Wu Wei

Lao Tzu said, “He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.” 

Surprisingly, this quote isn’t about the “Tortoise and the Hare” story.

Though it fits pretty nicely, doesn’t it?

It’s based on Wu Wei, a Taoist concept meaning “effortless action” or “non-doing.”

But, despite what it says, Wu Wei doesn’t actually mean doing nothing. 

It’s more about letting yourself just be. 

Think about Wu Wei like being in a Flow State.

You’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with it…

Existing so deep “in the zone” that there is no separation between you, and what you’re doing.

That intertwined sense of “being” is the same flow that helps you tap into the Tao. 

But, it’s a struggle to access this state because of one simple thing:

Impatience.

As humans, we tend to want things NOW. 

But that’s not how the Tao works.

The Tao can’t be rushed… everything must play out in its own time.

So, patience is a necessary virtue if you want to get in flow.

Because at the end of the day, the way things play out isn’t up to you.

It’s up to the Tao. 

And, since the Tao operates on the Universe’s timeline (not yours)...  

You’ve got time to give Wu Wei a shot. 

So, the next time you feel a call to action… 

Sit back, take a breath, and let things unfold the way the Tao intended. 

Just remember to put your “patience pants” on first. 

4: The Gift of Adversity

Lao Tzu said, “If you realise that all things change, there is nothing you will try and hold on to.” 

Much like Lao Tzu’s view on labels, his position on adversity is all about letting go. 

Humans are nothing if not creatures of habit. 

That’s part of why so many of us resist change… or at least are scared of it. 

Because where you are now is comfortable. 

It’s familiar. 

It’s safe. 

So why give up that comfort for something that “could be”?

Instead, you plant your feet in familiarity and refuse to budge.

But, that’s the thing about discovering, “what you might become”...

It will remain a mystery until you stop running from change… and turn towards it, instead. 

Now, the truth about change is: it’s inevitable.

It’s going to happen whether you’re ready for it or not. 

And that gives you a choice… 

Will you push the change away in fear?

Or do you turn towards it, come what may? 

Lao Tzu recommends water as a teacher because water constantly adapts to navigate through obstacles…

And while change is hard for all of us…

If you embody the fluid nature of water…

You will begin to welcome change with open hands.

So, if something new is coming your way. 

Stop. Take a breath. And step back.

Let the Tao take the lead.

5: Finding Joy in the Present

Lao Tzu said, “When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” 

If you think anything like the old me… a private jet or Lambo means “you made it.”

But equating happiness with materialistic things is a dangerous path.

Because, as soon as you sign the papers for your Lambo… 

You’re thinking about a second, more expensive car…

Then a third one… and a fourth one… and a fifth one.

When you focus on materialistic desires, you’re feeding a bottomless pit that will never be satiated.

And this kind of behaviour stems from a scarcity mindset — focusing on what you don’t have, rather than what you do. 

But this isn’t the path of the Tao. 

The Tao seeks harmony and peace… 

And if you’re living in a constant state of “want,” you can’t get into flow.

Instead, take a page from the Tao Te Ching and focus on contentment.

Allow yourself to find happiness in simplicity — in the “little things.”

Look at what you have around you right now…

A roof over your head, a fridge full of food, people who love you…

And tell yourself, “I have everything I need, right here, right now.”

And believe it. 

6: Accepting Your Flaws

Lao Tzu said, “When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you.”

And to me, it all boils down to this: no one is perfect. 

When you accept that nobody is perfect (yourself included)… you begin to cultivate compassion for yourself and others. 

When it comes to the Tao, whatever is… is and whatever isn’t… isn’t. 

Nothing is good or bad, right or wrong… it just is.

Everything is perfectly imperfect. 

So, while I know you don’t need permission to be your authentic self… 

I’ll give it to you, just in case. 

You can let yourself off the hook for not being “perfect.”

Because “perfect” is bullshit, anyway. 

Flow with the Tao

The river is pushing you closer and closer to the sharp, grey rocks. 

Your frantic, chaotic paddling has gotten you nowhere. 

In your current state, it feels easier to continue panicking.

But instead… you try something different. 

You take a deep breath. 

You take your paddle out of the water.

And you decide, in that moment, to just be a river. 

Stay awesome, stay powerful. 

P.S: If you want to see what my life looks like travelling the world whilst scaling our company, you might like our new Youtube channel. It’s a deep and adventurous behind-the-scenes of my life with Gabi.

You can watch the next episode here.