13 Books For Finding Your Flow During Frenzied Times

Unsplash Photo Credit: Hudson Hintze

The Grind! You have probably heard this popular phrase used to define traits like ambition, hard work, and strenuous effort. You may have even used this phrase yourself.

Honestly, I cringe whenever this phrase is uttered because to me it reflects a forceful approach to life, one that runs counter to how I am naturally wired.

I’m often reminded of when I was a young kid, in the car while Dad was driving. Whenever a car would zoom by us on the street, he’d often remark “watch, they’ll likely end up at the stoplight at the same time we do.” Nine times out of ten he was correct.

He would then point out the absurdity of these drivers’ antics, specifically noting all of the additional fuel and strain on the engine it took only end up with the same outcome as the drivers he passed.

The message my Dad was trying to convey is that we can make more efficient use of our resources by not forcing things unnaturally. Ultimately, the long game of life is not about pushing and straining to get somewhere but embracing the pleasure of the journey.

It wasn’t until years later that I began to embrace the essence of this lesson through my discovery of a word called Wu Wei. Over time it has become my go-to approach to living. Predicated on one’s acknowledgment of the rhythmic order of life, Wu Wei (which invokes the literal Chinese meaning of “non-doing”), reflects a natural action that runs counter to our common tendencies of struggle or excessive effort. Ultimately, it involves the cultivation of a mental state where our actions and efforts are effortlessly orchestrated with the natural flow of life.

Below are 13 books that you may find useful as you seek to create more rhythm and grace in your personal and professional endeavors. I’ve read the vast majority of these book cover-to-cover and have found them to be a wellspring of wisdom in my own life expansion journey.

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Performance by Tim Gallwey

Whenever I’m inclined to wanna force things in my life, I am immediately reminded of the wisdom extolled in this book. In short, Gallwey underscores the importance of embracing those things which we already know how to do naturally, thereby transcending the head chatter that impedes effortless action. This, he says, leads to that sweet spot in life often referred to as “flow.”

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

A friend gave me a copy of this book years ago. And while I had no clue as to what it meant then, it now makes complete sense to me now. In short, this book unwraps the mystery of Taoist wisdom through stories and examples of an infamous storybook bear named Pooh who goes about his life with effortless calm, stillness, and ease. You’ll love the simplicity of this read — I promise!

Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science, and the Power of Spontaneity by Edward Slingerland

Slingerland is my favorite “Effortless Action” author. The video below explains why.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Note: Bonus points if you can pronounce the author’s last name.

Csikszentmihalyi is the preeminent researcher in the field of flow states. No doubt, you have experienced this deep state of consciousness called flow at certain points in your life. During this state, people often recount losing all sense of time as they’re fully engaged in an activity that called for their total involvement. Csikszentmihalyi’s mission in the book is to demonstrate ways in which this positive state can be self-initiated on a more frequent basis, not simply left to chance.

Effortless Living: Wu-Wei and the Spontaneous State of Natural Harmony by Jason Gregory and Damo Mitchell

I just finished this one recently on my Kindle. It’s an absolute gem

Do Nothing & Do Everything: An Illustrated New Taoism by Qiguang Zhao

Another commonly heard definition of Wu Wei is “do nothing, accomplish everything.” The author Zhao in a fun, humorous way does an exquisite job of articulating this approach to life. While a bit intellectual at times, I found reading this book to be a blast!

Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior by Phil Jackson

I discovered this book at a very pivotal time in my life. Since then it has become my favorite read ever. Written by pro basketball’s most prolific coach, it promotes a philosophy of “letting go” in order to allow one’s actions to align with the natural state of life. Jackson spices the book up with pithy statements that have long remained with me, like “don’t think, just do,” and “ it’s far better to be aware then smart.”If you like reading about how a sport like basketball can be tied to one’s spiritual journey then this read is for you.

Living in the Tao: The Effortless Path of Self Discovery by Mantik Chia

I’m currently re-reading this book and all I can say is that IT IS DEEP. And it’s fun, practical and prescriptive. Here is the basic gist of it: When we learn to quiet our mind with meditation practices, we can transcend linear thinking, effortlessly expanding into greater life possibilities.

Everything In Its Place: The Power of Mise-En-Place To Organize Your Life, Work and Mind by Dan Charnas

I read this book about a year ago and actually use its key tenets of Preparation, Process, and Presence on a daily basis as a writer. It explores the concept of Mise In Place, a foundational organizing principle for restaurants throughout the world. What you’ll discover is that this treatise for creating order in a kitchen offers some sage wisdom for how we organize our lives.

Peak: Secrets From The New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson

You will find this to be a great source of inside information on why constant interruptions to your flow run counter to an effortless existence. More importantly, you’ll find Ericsson’s groundbreaking approaches invaluable to ushering in improvements around almost any endeavor that matters to you.

The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance by George Mumford

Mumford was a key advisor to Phil Jackson and his championship Chicago Bulls teams of the 80s, teaching the players the basics of meditation and mindfulness. These very same principles can be applied to your desire to live an effortless life. Says Mumford

“Self-consciousness is when you’re focused on how you’re doing instead of what you’re doing. We have to learn how to push and challenge ourselves, but not in an insensitive way. Honing your performance really comes down to being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

The Fire Starter Session by Danielle LaPorte

For me, this book’s takeaway is simple: Spend more time with what gets you jazzed and energized. In other words, what feels good. LaPorte believes that this is the most potent form of clarity we can possess around true fulfillment.

Effortless Action: Wu-Wei As Conceptual Metaphor and Spiritual Ideal in Early China by Edward Slingerland

This unusually expensive book which I’m currently reading has been well worth it. It offers a systematic, somewhat academic look at this concept of Wu-Wei,” expanding upon the so-called “paradox of wu-wei.” In Slingerland’s verbiage, all of this embodies the proverbial question of how one consciously “tries not to try.”

Slingerland says:

“For a person in wu-wei, proper conduct follows as instantly and spontaneously as the nose responds to a bad smell, and with the same sense of unconscious ease and joy with which the body gives in to the seductive rhythm of song.”