As a generally soft person, this gave me so much comfort. I always thought there was something wrong with me because of it. Regardless of how strong I've tried to be, I could never really accomplish it. This made me realize that there was nothing wrong with me all along

Softness is what enables us to lean into our resilience and build our courage overtime. We have become so resistant towards any signs of weakness and vulnerabilities that we now automatically equate soft with weak. Not the same, thank you for the video

Being like water/being gentle is so easy yet challenging at times. We often try to control & force things to happen in our lives. But when we let go life unfolds effortlessly and you save much more energy.

_“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves._ _Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”_ ― Bruce Lee

I would use the more Taoist accurate terms of rigidity and flexibility instead of weak and strong. A flexible plant bends (adapts) to strong winds while a rigid plant breaks. Water flows around hard objects because it adapts itself while a hard object with run up against the rock. Taoists teach "softness" as adaptability and compliance rather than as weakness. Bamboo is one of the strongest plants for its size, but it bends and adapts to strong wind. Taoist "softness" is not a measure of strength, but adaption.

To be gentle as a warm hearted feather And as solid as concrete As ferocious as a lion Is an art within itself People mistake love and kindness with weakness For they don't have the wisdom to understand the immense strength it carries And the heart of the lion Is far more powerfull than its roar

”Self-control is Strength, Right thought is Mastery, Calmness is Power” -James Allen

As an educator I often try to teach students that insecurity is often a sign of sensitivity, read caring for who might be hurt by consequences. And I think the world needs much more sensitive leaders, not 'strong man' with tunnel vision.

I’ve always been told “You’re too soft” and “you need to be more aggressive” even though I’m gentle by nature so hearing this is reassuring. For a lot of people it’s much more difficult to be nice rather than mean in this world sometimes. I always find great admiration in those who remain kind and calm even in the toughest of situations

It takes much emotional strength to be soft and warm hearted in these times.

A strong man can win many fights, but a smart man never has to fight at all.

This reminds me of the story of the Willow and the Oak. People tend to admire and want to emulate the great Oak tree because it is big and strong and sturdy, but, when a big storm comes, the Oak can be completely toppled, pulling its roots from the ground. Whereas during the same storm the Willow tree being supple and pliant will bend, sometimes almost all the way to the ground, but when the storm is over it springs right back up into place, thus surviving.

The more I learn from many religions, philosophies, and just general wisdom throughout society as I travel. The more I find that the greatest philosophical wisdom for life there is, is to be balanced. Everything comes back to this. Not too little or too much of any one thing. Like the Yin and Yang. You have a little of yin in the yang and vice versa, and you have both flowing into each other. Balance.

That example of the tiger is so true. When I was painting the deck in my backyard last summer. A neighbor dog kept barking at me for 10 minutes. I said nothing and continued to paint. The dog eventually stopped barking and adapted to me lol

As a Finn just innocently listening to a video of Taoist teachings, I questioned my sanity for a long second when you suddenly started talking of my small country. Kiitos for bringing us up 🙏🏻🇫🇮

Such wise words. I realized I want to imitate the qualities of water. "Nothing can compete with it" What I liked about the water is it seeks the lowest position. That is humility. Something I need to learn. I need to learn how to be more gentle. Listening & being humble.

I would like to recommend the movie "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" for a sample of this. The husband is disdained by his wife and through her journey she learns to see the benefit of his yin. Thank you for your videos.

Wonderful clip. A lot of these philosophies, I have always known intrinsically since I was a child. But along the way I got fooled into thinking we must be the strongest, toughest, and most dominating to survive and thrive in a materialistic world. This is a great reminder that the latter is an illusion that can lead us to break, instead of bend.

Totally agree! Sometimes, softness makes us win. Hardness destroys things.

Softness and soft power is the way to go.Become gently flowing water.Don’t project,force or try to dominate in life with you expectation of everything to go your way. Just let go and be gentle and let everything be. So much will come back to you! I am very physically strong as a person,but getting flexible now in my core as I practice various yoga asanas. I am accepting softness and embracing vulnerability now

Softness but with dominance. My softness makes people walk all over me because I tried to live an ideal world of "there's no hierarchy, we're all equal" so I feel bad to put myself above anyone even if I may be a manager, or teacher, and voila! My softness killed me that the only way to draw boundary is by being harsh, hard and project anger.

I hardly comment on any youtube video but this one is life changing. As a human being , we are trying hard to get best out of the situation , fighting for everything so that we could get ahead of others. The entire education system right from our childhood force us into this unending loop of belief where comparison with others become a new normal. But this video changed my decade old belief that strength is not the only answer to navigate the complexities of life infact its just not sustainable in the long run , its softness ..being flexible and accommodating is the secret for a sustainable and content life. Thank you Einzelganger for teaching me the importance of being like water , "seek the lowest yet be the most important".

Your videos has inspired me for years man. The way you summarise huge philosophies into something short, enjoyable and very relevant for modern age is astounding!

Don't mistake kindness for weakness. Everyone has a fight inside them.

Being a soft hearted person was tough in the modern society until I started practicing Bhakti Yoga. Devotion channelizes my sensitivity so well. I feel proud and powerful with this sensitive heart ❤️ Goal of my life is to purify myself more and more 😇

_I tried to imagine the most powerful superhero for a story. It was a boring story since nothing happened. The hero was so powerful as to solve all problems before they formed._ Power and effort are inversely related. The most powerful exert the least effort. Fear belongs to those who must exert the most effort: They do not believe they possess the ability to exert sufficient effort in times of crisis. -Some recent shower thoughts I've had. Good video - thanks!

In my opinion weakness and softness are two different things.

Wait, so I'm basically living like a Finnish prisoner? 😂 Jokes aside, I really love your content. I'd love to see you do a video on Lagom, the Swedish principle of 'just enough'.

all my life, "youre so insecure, bah, haha, youre such a softie!" these character traits made me endure so much more than the other guys, and that allowed me to develop so much deeper insights and lessons...i like to be considered weak. isnt it also mentioned by sun tzu, that one should feign weakness?

Beautiful✨🦋 just what I needed to hear in creating a better bond with an elderly who’s been very hostile, bitter, and angry…I’ll come from a place of love, compassion, understanding and lots & lottts of patience😊 which will in return help me to grow and learn🙏🏼 I appreciate this content so much 🙌🙌 Thank you!!

Be malleable but unbreakable. Be able to bend but not snap. Rigidity and softness are best together in moderation.

It’s become easier to be quiet when I have knowledge but to ask questions to get more knowledge is something I’ll have to do in the future :) thanks for this !

Soft and calm yet able to dominate and conquer what i desire, but keeping that impulse in check is what strive to become

I'm not religious but the same is stated in the Bible; "The race is not won to the strong and the swift but to those who endure". As in resilience.

This is one of your best videos I would say. I have been criticized for being soft when asking questions or being silent but you proved those wrong who criticized me by explaining that scenario in this video. Also now I am able to relate how to 'fit in' by being more adaptable like water as said by you while explaining the 'survival of the fittest' part. Thanks for this masterpiece.

Vulnerability is power as it helps you connect with the hidden parts of yourself and accept yourself more freely! It is to be embraced and not run away from!

This was likely the inspiration for Tarkovsky who wrote this for his film “Stalker”: “Let them be helpless like children, because weakness is a great thing, and strength is nothing. When a man is just born, he is weak and flexible. When he dies, he is hard and insensitive. When a tree is growing, it's tender and pliant. But when it's dry and hard, it dies. Hardness and strength are death's companions. Pliancy and weakness are expressions of the freshness of being. Because what has hardened will never win.”

Bruce Lee, one of the greatest martial artists of our recent history, taught us to "be water". All true strength is founded on softness. Gojyu-ryu, one of the main schools of karate, literally means "firm-soft style". Be like water, and you will be able to be strong in times of need.

I can’t stop thinking that the concept of power through softness in Daoism is related to the great stoics. Being flexible implies faith that you can attain a positive outcome, regardless of the path taken.

Watching your video indeed reminded me of an old story I once encountered about an oak tree engaging with a swamp reed in a debate. The oak mocks the reed for being small and feeble while boasting that itself, is strong and firmly rooted to the ground, even in times of storm. Indeed, a storm does come and the oak stands, as expected, and the reed is swayed. The storm grows stronger and stronger. Eventually, though, the oak loses its ground and falls to the ground, roots and all, whereas the reed, though feeble, retained its stance and unscathed. Watching this video did help me establish the connection between these two outlooks, but I also understood that true power doesn't originate from the widely accepted definition of strength, but from the fact that having true strength arises from a manifestation of your identity and a belief on yourself.

I'm not sure I agree if softness is weakness. Being soft, tolerant, and persistent requires strength. Weakness would be crying over things not going your way, getting angry, throwing tantrums etc.

This is excellent information have used both approaches ruined my first career being using what I thought was my strength came to this realization that if I’m lowest and help full with out imposing my knowledge or will just let go and help I never made more positive work relationships that people would do anything to help. Stay humble which Is not always easy. Just be a helper for good. Good for goodness sake’s is my motto. Love life.

"Change is life and life is change" - I like that :)

Beautiful message. 💜

i really needed to hear this right now in my life, thanks for uploading so often!

Perfect timing for this message. Thank you.

Powerfull insight in a timely manner, is sudden wisdom and what the world needs now! “The rigid will break, the soft and yielding will overcome.” Yoda could not do better. Indeed, soft, gentle Water is the most potent element in the Universe that not only wears-away rock, crumbles mountains, douses fire, churns wind, and permeates all living things, but water is a rare compound that also transmutes states of matter (solid crystal to liquid, liquid to vapor to solid crystal, and repeat) in cyclic manner and has done so for countless eons. Water not only sustains Life but is Life itself. As Bruce Lee once said, “Be water my friend”. Monkey Mind is the default mind-program of our species that operates in the background of every person on the planet and is our own worst enemy, if not only to our Gaia planet, a home and refuge to us all. Laws, religions, and business models were all created in the context of Monkey Mind. Indeed, Business Mind is Monkey Mind on full display. If there was a singular cause for ALL the problems in this world, undoubtedly it is Monkey Mind. It is the default program of our species (dogs just know how to be dogs, elephants just know how to be elephants, etc) and this program operates in the background of every person … from peasants to presidents, from popes to professors, from doctors to prisoners, and so on for eons past. The 3 Elements of Monkey Mind were elucidated by ancient Hindu and Buddhist philosophers with texts dating back 5000 years. Many monkey habitats have thrived throughout Asia and make easy subjects to observe and investigate. In contrast, the 3 Abrahamic religions were conceived in regions barren of simian/monkeys/apes and for the few that existed there in those times were displayed as exotic curiosities and kept as imprisoned pets. Therefore, to the detriment of succeeding civilizations, Abrahamic religions missed out on key understandings of, “who are we” and thus synthesized mythologies based on magical thinking and story telling to enslave the minds of many. But Truth, just like the sun and the moon, cannot remain hidden! The 3 Elements of Monkey Mind are common to many other animals on this Planet of the Apes, however, through specific practices it is possible to breakthrough our default program and attain enlightenment (many in throughout history have). Past civilizations attempted to elevate society above our feces-flinging ancestors, but had limited success. And so, the 3 Elements are: 1) Limitless Greed - nothing is enough for us, especially if it is pleasurable to the senses or rewarding to ego. The popular idea that ‘greed is good’ has many fans. Ex: Got a pay raise? Not enough, want more! Enjoyed sexy time? Not enough, want more! Feeling powerful with a gun? Not enough, need more power! Etcetera ad nauseam. 2) Tireless Fear - Nothing in life is certain, except uncertainty. Uncertainty is certain and indeed, is a Law of Physics. One can plan, scheme, organize, rehearse, but tomorrow is still uncertain. Fear is the result of uncertainty and inability to control variables beyond one’s reach. Fear is crippling and keeps people from living life fully and maintaining happiness. Governments and businesses (insurance industry in particularly) understand and exploit peoples’ fears to enslave and dominate their patrons. 3) Impassive Dominance - monkeys seek the highest position in the trees, especially when under threat, to get ‘above it all’. People ambitiously seek the supreme by reaching and grasping for higher social status (fame), higher career positions, higher educational degrees, higher athletic achievements, higher domicile dwellings (skyscrapers), higher highs, etcetera ad nauseam, all believing it will reduce their suffering but often has the opposite effect! These 3 Elements (Limitless Greed, Tireless Fear, and Impassive Dominance) have not been sufficiently managed by the ancients(if no-one’s teaching it then no-one knows it) and so today’s civilization continues to bring suffering to itself and the planet and all life living on it. In fact, the only thing man-kind has mastered is imprisonment! Man can cage, bottle, ensnare, entrap, enslave, mostly anything his Monkey Mind desires with few exceptions. However, through practicing the 3 Virtues of Human Mind, we could transform suffering into happiness. The 3 Virtues of Human Mind are: 1) Limitless Generosity - you will always have more than another in need and kindness does not cost anything. Practicing limitless generosity alone can generate an abundance of positive merit (good Karma) to turn the Wheel of Becoming. It is a powerful practice that does not have involve money, but just being helpful to others - the definition of Human Being is sufficient. To the giver, comes the fullness of life. To the greedy, just an empty hand. 2) Tireless Trust - trust is the foundation of human civilization (past-present-future(?)). Trust forms the basis for all relationships. It builds confidence and instills security. Trust implies an understanding that we are all same, with same circumstances and our survival depends on our trust. “Trust yourself, Trust Others, Trust God” is a wonderful book for everyone with trust issues or without! Most importantly Trust dispels Fear and opens a world of possibilities! Do not fear your enemy, for he is your greatest teacher! 3) Passive Abiding - dominance is rigid and unyielding, therefore subject to fracturing and breaking. Abiding is soft and conforming, like water. Our bodies are 70-80% water, for it is the most powerful element in the universe, yet it is soft and abiding. Water conforms to its’ surroundings, seeks its’ own level, extinguishes fires, wears away rock, moves the wind, permeates all life, and transmutes states of matter (from solid, to liquid, to vapor) in cyclic forms. Water gives life! If it isn’t Life itself! Just get with the flow and as Bruce Lee famously said, “Be Water, my friend”! Practicing these 3 Virtues causes a breakthrough in Monkey Mind and can transform this planet’s tragic history. But it can not be forced or indoctrinated because truth speaks for itself. As Michael Jackson once sang in “Man in the Mirror”, “… that’s why I’m starting with me!” It is more than a catchy tune, but profoundly insightful and effective! (Though, it is about Dharma and not mutilation of genitalia)! The essence of our being is after all pure energy, that according to I. Newton, is neither created nor destroyed, only transferred or transformed. We are all compounded aggregates genetically composed of 25% mommy, 25% daddy, and 50% Creator/God/DivineLight/Allah/Ra/Jeweh/GalacticCenter/etc. The DarkSide obfuscated this ancient knowledge long ago when we were still a feces-flinging race and had constructed a system of slavery that has been operating for many eons (2500 years) upto today. To Team Dark, true Liberation is a threat to the business model of systemic exploitation, i.e. slavery, today known as Capitalism. Keeping the masses drunk on greed, consumerism, and kept ignorant to the Universal within has yielded Team Dark large profits with little effort. Truth is Liberating and cannot remain hidden. Karma is the Great Equalizer that brings balance to all things, from macro to micro, throughout all solar systems and galaxies in the cosmos. Simply put, Karma (Natural Law) rewards wise action and punishes ignorant ones. Anger, hatred, and greed are the three poisons that Monkey Mind thrives upon and thus generates self-inflicted suffering. But it doesn’t have to be that way and transforming Monkey Mind to Human Being Mind yields epic spiritual experiences. There is no alternative to our Gaia Earth and we must all learn to coexist in unity. The longer we live, the more we learn. And Gaia has much to teach. H. Sapiens divorced themselves from Nature long ago and missed teaching opportunities so necessary to honor the gift of Life! Like all rivers empty into the oceans, we too return to what we create for our future selves. We should live The Way of Water! ✌🏼🌞🙏🏼 🐝

the content is very well explained, translated, and delivered. Keep up the good work!

Great video. Made me think of Jon Gomm's line "weakness is not your weakness"

Just what I needed this morning. Thank you

This is just what I needed to hear this morning, thanks!

You have an uncanny knack of creating and publishing something that I need to hear at that moment I need it. Many 🙏

Always a pleasure to hear such wise words. 🙏🏻

(I'm only halfway through the video so that's why my expressions won't be accurate, but I needed to express myself) In my previous relationship, the guy I was with used to say that we were complete opposites. He always said that he was strong, and that I was weak. He'd also say I'm delicate (even though physically I'm on the bigger side), and that he'd make me strong... But never told me how*. I always thought that deep within, I'm a strong person. I always thought that despite everything, I always pull myself out of things and places. I though of myself as someone resilient. But him calling me weak when I'd cry when I was upset, or very quiet when I was annoyed, or expressed my emotions and concerns, well, I questioned myself to the core. This video really confirms the inner truth I always had. Instead of being indifferent when facing situations, I may engage more in them. Instead of easily pulling an intimidating appearance, I may have it harder to do so. Instead of using threats or beneficial premises ("you're the one who hurt me in the first place, you should be apologizing to me"), I like to understand the other party and work for a win-win need satisfaction situation. But all of that, despite everything, doesn't mean I'm weak. I got this, but my own way. Déjame rodar a mi bola! * It's funny because things got pretty twisted and he ended up threatening, scaring, spying, sabotaging and blackmailing me. I had a really, really, really hard time. I learned a lot. Specially that I got through that, and my way was actually harder. But hey, I got through it. I'm strong. And you too.

Amazing. I was reflecting about this earlier today. The hard and the soft are as the Tao, they complement each other, you can' t choose one over the other. It is a delicate balance, to live well, one has to know when to be hard and when to be soft. Thank you once more. Einzelganger.

Your videos always give me a lesson to learn while living through life! So thank you 🙇💚

In my opinion, this has been the best video I've seen in your channel, loved it, thank you

Excellent reasoning and sharing of wisdom once again.... I almost feel like I sigh with relief with every new video of yours I watch, as a few pounds of life's pressures lift from my shoulders. Thank you.

I absolutely love your videos, they have helped me more than words could possibly express. Thank you so much. ❤️

I love all your videos, but the Taoist philosophy ones are my favorite. Thank you!

Thank you for this video. I find myself relinquishing to strength when I’m scared, and recently, forgetting to appreciate my softness. I’m grateful for my resilience and I’ll strive to continue sharing unconditional love with my softness. Sending you peace, restorative justice, and enduring faith ❤ -from wind seeking ocean

Thank you so much for the knowledge you share about philosophy, watching your videos always brings me peace !

this was amazing! changed my perspective rather, I've always looked at this characteristic in me as a weakness , something that needed to be overcome but learnt it must be embraced.

I loved your content and I watched all your videos,your videos all truly perished my all of my pain and cherished my heart

That was refreshing and well presented 🙏🏼

I love your books and videos. Thank you so much 💓

Amazing video, a great reminder. I recently read your book "Stoicism for Inner Peace" and it was great, I've been practicing amor fati the most and it's been hard but also wonderful

Thank you so much for sharing this post. I appreciate this reminder of truth. 🤩

Thanks for this amazing video. This was an enlightened experience 😃🙏.

Thank you for the video and thank you for your last book. It's wonderful.

This is what the world really needs. :)Thanks Einzelgänger for another great video!

Wow, this is the best explanation of this concept that I've ever heard. Thank you!

Great lesson. Very well laid out. This will inspire many.

I was just thinking about this a lot latetly, thank you! Nice to gain some perspective

This is still my favorite youtube channel EVER since I've discovered it!

Man! I freaking LOVE your videos. I watch all of them over and over learning and absorbing your lessons about philosophy. And I am adding these lessons to my life. Thank you! 9:30

Thank you for all your good works. These help me to reduce my stress. May God bless you with miracles!❤🌷

Very nice. It is true that whatever puts out lots of force can have it deflected upon itself and it is also true that something that can adapt without force really can overcome anything

You are a great source of wisdom in my daily life, helping me in my personnal projects and also understanding eachother. Thank you for your work 🤗 i'm grateful

This is one of my Einselganger favorites!😊

this is such a great video. as a person who is not strong enough in some ways, this gave me hope that being soft doesn't equate being weak. i find being soft calming, and easy to understand people.

Great knowledge. I hope to be able to put it into practice. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for posting... I like youre videos, a great service to the world. Have a good day and stay warm.

Awesome video!! 🤗👍🏽 It's so great to realize that my so called 'weakness' is actually flexibility and ability to adapt!! 🤩🎉🎊👏🏽💛💙❤️

Thank you, I really needed to see this today.

Wow, well written. Congratulations brother, you really do a great job of making these ideas actionable.

Absolutely excellent content. I love your channel.

It’s almost as though something lead me here. How wonderful.

I love ur videos! Keep em coming!

Ahhh this is so refreshing. Thank you thank you thank you 💛💛💛

Love your posts. This one spoke to me: big theme in the current times. Dankjewel🙏🏻

After so many days you posted... another incredible video. 👍🏻

This is one of your best videos yet

👍"change is life and life is change".

It just changed my life, thank you

That was so fantastic I took notes. Thank you so much!

This is one of the most challenging topics in Taoism. I feel like it's easy to misunderstand it. To put it in the simple statements, I believe Taoism simply making this points: You don't have to get more resources to have more of them, you can just spend them more economically. Both positions have pros and cones. I can't agree with the notions it's always best to spend less than to get more, albeit the former is in general more sustainable. You can imagine to men, big one and small one, in the island with limited food. Small will require less food, but the big one can the small one food. So it's obvious in this simple situation it's better to be the strong one. You don't always have space to run. You don't always have room for negotiations, pleas or coexistence. But it is, undoubtedly, a good thing to have less needs and to avoid any restriction to your movement. The Taoism offers us a good insight on how you can become more powerful by seemingly becoming weaker and smaller. You don't have to always grow. And, well, all the talk about moving with the flow and being soft and flexible, it's just a fancy way of telling that prioritisation, ability to spend your energy in smarter, less "expensive" in terms of resources ways are useful tools in achieving your goals, if you can get results in this way. And, finally, it's important to pick your goals wisely. Because you won't last long if you try to die on every hill you come across. A guy who constantly fights will sooner or later be finished with crippling injuries

I always love this moment of tao

Thank you for this 💜

One of the best vídeos ever made. Thanks a lot