Chapter 48: Living by Decreasing
“In pursuit of knowledge,
every day something is added.
In pursuit of the Tao,
every day something is dropped.
Less and less is done
until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone.
The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.”
— Tao Te Ching, Verse 48
Letting Go to Become Whole
This verse contrasts two approaches to life:
- The pursuit of knowledge, which focuses on accumulating information, achievements, status, and control.
- The pursuit of the Tao, which focuses on releasing the nonessential—ego, attachment, overthinking, and resistance.
Wayne Dyer interprets this as a call to shift from constant doing and adding toward a life of unburdening and being. True wisdom and peace arise not from the addition of more, but from the quiet courage to subtract what no longer serves us.
The Tao invites us to let life unfold naturally rather than constantly trying to fix, force, or manipulate. In doing less, we align with the effortless flow of the universe—what the Taoists call wu wei, or “non-interference.”
Key Concepts:
Doing less leads to achieving more—without struggle.
Let go, and you gain alignment.
Stop interfering, and life arranges itself.
Peace and wisdom come through subtraction, not addition.
Actionable Steps: Living by Decreasing
- Let Go of Mental Clutter
- Observe your thoughts: what unnecessary worries, judgments, or stories are you holding onto?
- Begin a “Thought Detox” journal. List daily thoughts you’re ready to release.
- Simplify Your To-Do List
- Each morning, ask: “What can I let go of today?”
- Prioritise only what is essential. Let the rest wait or dissolve.
- Declutter Your Environment
- Choose one area—your inbox, wardrobe, or workspace—and release what is unused or draining.
- Create spaciousness physically to mirror spiritual spaciousness.
- Practise Wu Wei (Effortless Action)
- When facing a challenge, resist the urge to immediately act or control.
- Instead, pause. Breathe. Wait. Let clarity arise before responding.
- Release Control Over Others
- Notice where you are micromanaging or trying to change someone.
- Practise non-interference. Say to yourself: “I trust their journey.”
- Commit to a “Not-Doing” Practice
- Dedicate 10–15 minutes a day to do nothing—no phone, no goals, just presence.
- Let this be your sacred time to reconnect with pure being.
Affirmation for Chapter 48:
“I let go of what no longer serves me.
In doing less, I become more.
The Tao lives through me as I release and trust.”