Wu Wei in the Workplace
Cultivating Effortless Action in a High-Pace Startup - by Dr. Rod Newton
Since discovering the Daoist concepts of Wu Wei, Yin & Yang, Qi, and Ziran & Te – my aim has been to bring these profound teachings to more aspects of daily life. Co-creating EvolveWell is an ongoing process of balancing a holistic approach to wellness, and striving to create something truly transformative. These teachings have helped guide the process of creating harmony, balance, and natural flow within a group of talented, driven individuals –while encouraging a thoughtful, inspired approach to innovation.
Let’s dive into each of these powerful concepts and how we’re utilizing them to build a platform that best serves coaches and clients:
Wu Wei: The practice of effortlessness
Translating to "non-action" or "effortless action," this precept centers around aligning with the natural flow of the universe – and moving forward without force or struggle.
How we encourage effortlessness at EvolveWell:
Intuitive design: We create user interfaces and experiences that feel natural and intuitive, and require minimal effort from our users.
Adaptive problem solving: We approach challenges with flexibility, finding solutions that work with, rather than against, existing conditions.
Yin and Yang: Balance & Harmony
A representation of the interconnected, complementary forces in the universe, yin and yang symbolize balance, cycles, and the importance of embracing both sides of any duality.
How we prioritize harmony at EvolveWell:
Balanced feature sets: We look at how our platform offers a balance of active, business-building components with more receptive, empathetic offerings that let clients take the lead.
Cyclical planning: Each week, we check in on our individual energy levels to recognize natural cycles in our work – so we can conserve our energy for big milestones, while respecting the need for heads-down, meeting-free days.
Qi: Life Force and Energy Flow
This vital life force flows through all things. In Daoism, cultivating and balancing Qi is essential for health and harmony.
How we keep the energy flowing at EvolveWell:
Energy-aware UX: Design features should always help end-users stay in alignment throughout every step of their journey. By offering the right action at the right time, we can offer a more supportive experience for our users.
Flow-state work: By incorporating breathwork and meditation practices into our workdays, we are able to harness our productive energy while transmuting anxiety and stress to promote that sweet state of flow where team members can tap into their natural creativity and productivity.
Ziran & Te: Naturalness & Integrity
Ziran is all about being natural, spontaneous, and true to one's essential nature. Te represents virtue, integrity, and the power that comes from living in alignment.
How we find our best selves at EvolveWell:
Authentic communication: We encourage genuine, straightforward communication within the team and with users.
User Trust: Our features protect user privacy and data, demonstrating our commitment to integrity.
By integrating these key Daoist principles into our work at EvolveWell, we’re empowered to create a platform that not only meets the practical needs of our users but also promotes harmony, balance, and natural flow in our team, too. Committing to these principles as we develop and grow, ensures our work aligns with the natural order and contributes positively to the world around us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Rod Newton has been at the forefront of holistic healing for over five decades. His passion for wellness and technology inspired him to co-create EvolveWell's mission to bring deeper insights and awareness to more people – and to help coaches scale their practices. His course Living From Vision has helped thousands of people cultivate more authentic life experiences, while his Ashland, Oregon healing center Hidden Springs serves as a haven for physical, emotional and spiritual alignment for the local community. Learn more @ LinkedIN
