The Art of Emptiness
In life, we sometimes see what is empty. We thought we could make sense of everything by filling it up. There is a perception that quantity is often better than quality. But how true is this?
Today I want to talk about Chinese philosophy, a philosophy where less is more acceptable. We are always trying to fill something in our lives. We fill our rooms with furniture, our pencil cases with pens, our brains with knowledge… If we look at it from a more fundamental dimension, all the ‘things’ we try to fill in our lives don’t have to be filled. So there is no obligation. According to Chinese philosophy, emptiness is of great importance in our lives. Imagine a pot. What gives this pot its function is that it is empty inside. Imagine a window; what gives it function is the fact that a part of the wall is empty. It is very natural to have empty spaces in your life, you do not have to fill them. If you get out of the chaos of life and look at yourself with a more serene spirit, you will see that the emptiness in your life leads you to peace. I am certainly not trying to say that everything in your life is empty. But you should not be too hard on yourself about the goals of your life. For example, if you want to work hard and achieve a great job or dream, you should know how to have fun sometimes. It can be very good for you to reduce your stress and continue your work after a break with a clearer mind. Be sure that this will make you more successful. Of course, balance is very significant here. You should be able to work and have fun in a balance.
If you think that emptiness symbolizes negativity and fullness symbolizes positivity, maybe it is time to change your perspective. The gaps you leave in the right place in life add meaning to your life. Even in music, the gaps between the notes make the music a meaningful whole and turn it into a work of art. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually difficult to wait, to stop, to feel the moment, and to be static. It requires an activity that is passive. Choosing to stop and sustaining it requires mastery. Getting rid of your unnecessary burdens and opening a space for yourself will relax you. Thus, you will feel better.
