The power of not using power

Reading chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching

“When carrying on your head your perplexed bodily soul
can you embrace in your arms the One
And not let go?
In concentrating your breath can you become as supple
As a babe?
Can you polish your mysterious mirror
And leave no blemish?
Can you love the people and govern the state
Without resorting to action?
When the gates of heaven open and shut
Are you capable of keeping to the role of the female?
When your discernment penetrates the four quarters
Are you capable of not knowing anything?
It give them life and rears them.
It gives them life yet claims no possession.
It benefits them but claims no gratitude.
It is the steward yet exercises no authority.
Such is called the mysterious virtue.”

Power is rooted in strength, wisdom, capability. The themes of the Tao Te Ching: not doing, silence, invisibility, humility, outisderness, all are rooted in strength. They are not excuses for a lack of strenght. Nothing is not done because one lacks the power to do anything. Nothing is done despite having the power to do. Nothing is done because that is the way.

True strength is not forcing anything but staying supple. True strength is leaving no marks. True strength is governing while still loving the people. True strength is having the power to make a difference but not using that power. True strength is having knowledge and wisdom but not being limited by it and surrendering to intuition. True strength is not seeking possession, gratitude, and not using authority. True strength lies in humility, not doing while having the power to do so. True strength lies in having authority but never having to use it.

Exercising authority, using power, outsmarting, overpowering is a sign of weakness and not power. Things must unfold in a natural way and not be forced according to the Tao.

Stefan Stenudd summarizes this beautifully:

“Whatever your role, you must treat people as gently as if you had no power at all over them. Even if you are in the position to give orders, you should ask. Even though you are sure that you know what’s right for them, you must allow them to choose for themselves.”

The Tao is about being a servant leader in any context. Be strong but do not use that strength but let things unfold. Not forcing only makes sense if you have the power to force something in the first place.

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