DILIGENCE AND MODERATION

Those who practice the Tao are often industrious achievers, but their diligence is balanced by the principle of moderation. They understand that beyond a certain point, working harder will not yield better results. Indeed, working too hard can yield poor results requiring more time and effort, not less.

This is a pattern that the sages observe in every walk of life. some people are eager to get things done faster, so they ask: “How long will it take if I work harder?” Those who understand the Tao ask no such questions. They put in the appropriate amount of diligent work, and then they rest and relax so they can continue working the next day, all the while knowing that they will reach the goal in due course.

The Tao Today

You can see this principle at work when you saw a piece of wood. Doing it with too much speed will only create more splinters, damage the saw and tire you out. Doing it at the right speed gives you the best result within a reasonable amount of time. One can readily observe this balance of diligence and moderation in the most successful Asian countries. We can adopt the same approach in our own lives.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin