I’m not sure if Laozi’s intention is being accurately grasped here. When he says to let the spontaneous occur, or to let things flow naturally, it need not be applied as an all-encompassing philosophy. Laozi has numerous musings on the need for direct action in many situations; ways to be a leader, to grow, to learn, to fulfill duty and to chase ambitions. Nevertheless, you bring up a great point in this discussion.

I’ve actually written at length about this very issue, much of which has also been published in the Ascent. Because I’m not a fan of commentary that promotes other work, I won’t specifically note any links here, but it’s a great topic to debate on because there are no definitive answers.

How far do we go in trying to control things that may or may not be within our control? How much should we care? How much should we try to influence outcomes?

Thanks for your perspective, it’s wholly necessary in this ongoing discussion.