Key points The principle of wei wu wei refers to action through inaction. Some valuable things in life cannot be achieved by simply trying harder, such as happiness and love.

In this conceptual review paper, the ancient Chinese wisdom of wu-wei and non-striving is explored as an approach for enhancing athletes’ practice of mindfulness and their overall performance.

Wu Wei and Prudence Rod Dreher’s most recent post gets at some of what I was striving for in my last three reflections on Tolstoy’s novel, and the character of Kutuzov.

In the 21st century, says Mullinax, wu-wei can be applied to everything from responding with appropriate public safety and health precautions to the COVID-19 pandemic to social justice efforts.