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The Tao Te Ching is a classic Chinese philosophical text that speaks to the way of nature and how best to be in harmony with its energy. Specifically, “wu-wei” is the path to harmony through “non-action.” This concept emphasizes the importance of aligning oneself with the natural flow of the world, rather than trying to impose one’s will on it.
Modern psychologists have likened this to the flow state in sports. In running, flow is something many seek to tap into each time we go out the door. According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow is the state of optimal experience that occurs when a person is fully immersed in an activity, and their skills and challenges are in balance.
According to Ruth Croft, last year’s winner of the Western States 100, “[flow] is about letting go of intentions, expectations, and our innate human desire to always be in control. It’s about complete surrender, where there is no internal or physical fight. It’s being exactly where you need to be at that moment.” Understanding these concepts can help improve your performance on and off the…
