ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Wu-wei

Wu-wei is a Chinese word which means "non-action" or "non-doing." It doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything at all, but it means that sometimes doing nothing is the best thing to do.

Imagine that you have a piece of paper and a pencil. If you force the pencil too much, the paper will tear and the drawing will look bad. But if you use just the right amount of pressure and let the lines flow gently, the drawing will be beautiful.

This is what wu-wei means: to do things with ease, without forcing it too much. It's about finding a balance between action and inaction. For example, when you're playing a game, you don't want to use all your energy at once. You need to be patient and strategic in your moves, otherwise, you could end up losing the game.

So, wu-wei is like playing a game. It's about being patient and strategic, and finding a way to take action without putting too much effort into it. You need to go with the flow and let things happen naturally, rather than trying to force them. Remember, sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do!
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