Competitions can be nerve-wracking. The more we live up to the day on which we are supposed to shine, the more anxiety builds up. What if I perform badly? What if something goes wrong?

An Olympic swimmer trains thousands of hours, just to get that medal. A musician practices for days on end, just to perform well those few times on stage. And a student practices a speech in front of the mirror multiple times, just for that moment in front of the audience.

When all their efforts come down to one defining moment, how can they not succumb to the pressure of the need to succeed?

Taoist sage Zhuangzi (Eastern philosopher) was a keen observer of nature, including human nature. He figured out that the burden of the future often negatively affects our performances in the present moment.

This video expands on a Taoist story that’s concerned with this pressure and the fear that it generates. Is it because we’re trying too hard that we don't seem to enter a flow state? If so, how can we win without trying?

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🎵 Music used:

Esther Abrami - No.4 Piano Journey
Esther Abrami - No.7 Alone With My Thoughts

Creative commons (attributions):

David Gilmour: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/David_Gilmour_Argentina_2015.jpg/800px-David_Gilmour_Argentina_2015.jpg
Daniel Hsu: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/CB_Winners425_%28Carolyn_Cruz%29.jpg/800px-CB_Winners425_%28Carolyn_Cruz%29.jpg
Enterprise Cup: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Homeboyz_Rugby_celebrate_winning_the_Enterprise_Cup.jpg
Hafzi Cup Final: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Persepolis_winning_Hazfi_Cup_3145297.jpg
Gold Medal: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/2012_Olympic_Gold_Medal.jpg/800px-2012_Olympic_Gold_Medal.jpg
Mind train: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Brain_Exercising.png/1280px-Brain_Exercising.png
Depressed: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Depressed_woman.jpg
Blue Jersey: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Winner_Blue_Jersey_men%27s_race_stage_2.jpg/800px-Winner_Blue_Jersey_men%27s_race_stage_2.jpg
Kardashian: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Kim_Kardashian_%288002634675%29.jpg
Crowd applause: https://freesound.org/people/lchapman1980/sounds/439894/
Coin falling: https://freesound.org/people/greenvwbeetle/sounds/423340/
Soccer crowd: https://freesound.org/people/Sandermotions/sounds/494360/

#TAOISM #FLOW #TAO