Chapter 78: Living Like Water
“Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water.
Yet nothing surpasses it for overcoming the hard and strong.
There is nothing that can compare.
Everyone knows that the soft overcomes the hard,
and the weak overcomes the strong.
Yet no one puts this into practice.
Therefore, the sage says:
He who takes on the humiliation of the people is fit to rule them.
He who takes on the country’s disasters is worthy of being king.
The truth often seems paradoxical.”
— Tao Te Ching, Verse 78
Lao Tzu elevates water as the supreme symbol of Tao. Though soft and yielding, it wears down the unyielding, carves mountains, and finds its way into every crevice. Water doesn’t fight. It flows. It adapts. It nourishes. It serves all things without seeking recognition.
Wayne Dyer invites us to emulate water—to live gently, humbly, and persistently, without pride or force. Water is a master of paradox: it is weak yet powerful, lowly yet necessary for life. To live like water is to let go of resistance, to offer yourself in service, and to seek humility over dominance.
Key Teachings
- Gentleness is strength in its highest form.
- The soft and humble have the greatest transformative power.
- True leadership is found in serving, not ruling.
- Let go of ego and flow with the Tao.
- Do not resist life—flow with it.
Actionable Steps: Living Like Water
- Practice Non-Resistance
- When tension arises, ask: “What would water do?”
- Soften your response. Breathe. Flow around the obstacle.
- Serve Quietly
- Look for ways to support others without seeking attention or credit.
- Like water, nourish without needing recognition.
- Adapt with Grace
- Accept change and let go of rigid expectations.
- Be formless enough to fit any situation while staying true to your essence.
- Stay Humble and Low
- Embrace humility. Water always seeks the lowest place.
- Lowering yourself in ego often raises you in spirit.
- Persist Softly
- Be like water dropping on stone—gentle, but over time, unbreakable.
- Consistent small efforts lead to powerful change.
Mantra for Living Like Water
“I flow with life. I serve like water.”
Let this mantra guide your breath and movement. Each time you face hardness—whether in people, systems, or internal struggle—let water be your teacher.