Chapter 55: Living by Letting Go
“One who is filled with the Tao
is like a newborn child.
Wasps and serpents will not sting it,
wild beasts will not pounce upon it,
birds of prey will not attack it.
Its bones are soft, its muscles weak,
yet its grip is firm.
It doesn’t know about the union of male and female,
yet its penis can stand erect.
So intense is its vitality.
It can cry all day and not become hoarse.
So complete is its harmony.
To know harmony is to know the eternal.
To know the eternal is to be enlightened.
Things in harmony with the Tao remain.
Things that are forced grow for a while, but then wither away.
This is not the Tao.
And whatever is contrary to the Tao will not last long.”
— Tao Te Ching, Verse 55
Verse 55 speaks of the power of innocence, trust, and surrender. Lao Tzu compares a person in harmony with the Tao to a newborn baby—fragile yet protected, simple yet deeply aligned with the life force. The baby doesn’t strive, control, or resist. It lets go, and in that release, it remains in harmony with the eternal.
Wayne Dyer invites us to embrace this innocence and softness—not as weakness, but as supreme strength. Letting go is not giving up; it’s giving in to a higher wisdom. It means releasing attachment to outcomes, ego-driven plans, and rigid control, and trusting in the natural flow of life.
Key Themes
- Understanding that what is forced cannot last.
- Letting go of control, fear, resistance.
- Living in trust, presence, and softness.
- Embracing the innate wisdom of surrender.
- Living in harmony with the eternal Tao.
Actionable Steps: Living by Letting Go
- Adopt a Beginner’s Mind
- Approach each day with curiosity instead of certainty.
- Let go of assumptions and be open to what life teaches you.
- Release the Need to Control Outcomes
- When facing uncertainty, affirm: “I trust the Tao. I surrender the outcome.”
- Do your part, then let the rest unfold naturally.
- Practice Gentle Strength
- Don’t mistake softness for weakness. Speak kindly. Hold your boundaries calmly.
- Let your strength come from peace, not force.
- Allow Emotions to Flow Without Resistance
- Like a baby, cry when you need to, laugh when moved.
- Feel without judgement. This restores harmony.
- Stop Forcing What Isn’t Flowing
- If you’re pushing, striving, or clinging—pause.
- Ask: “Is this aligned with the Tao, or with my ego’s fear?”
- Meditate on the Eternal
- Spend time each day simply sitting in stillness, connecting with the presence beyond thought.
- Feel the peace that comes when you stop trying to make life happen.
Reflection Prompts
When was the last time I felt truly soft, open, and protected—like a newborn?
Where in my life am I forcing or clinging?
What would letting go look like in this situation?
Final Thought
To let go is to live like water—soft, flowing, unresisting, and yet able to shape stone.
Letting go is not a loss; it’s a return.
Return to trust.
Return to simplicity.
Return to the Tao.
In this letting go, you become like the child—safe, strong, and in perfect harmony with life itself.