Alan Watts: Dancing With Life
“The greater the resistance, the greater the pain”
The only constant in life is reality shifts.
Every living thing is evolving, transforming and becoming.
Alan Watts, philosopher, writer and speaker, thought life is not a rigid experience but an ever-shifting reality.
Like dancing.
He absorbed Eastern philosophy like a sponge and translated the wisdom he gained for his audience. He resonated with an audience hungry for a different perspective on life.
His talks were infused with humour, poetry, and a touch of Zen. At the heart of Watts’ philosophical teaching is a radical understanding of life.
He saw reality as a continuous flow of energy, a dance with an ever-changing world. Watts observed we are not separate from this dance; we are part of it, participants in the grand unfolding of life.
In his words, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Life is something you enjoy whilst it’s still happening. If reality is constantly shifting, then clinging to the past or trying to control the future is futile. Instead, Watts taught his reader to flow with the ever-changing current.
Flow like a river
He called this “the Tao of living,” a way of being open and receptive to the unpredictable nature of life. Acting without resistance and appreciating the impermanence of all things.
“To resist change, to try to cling to life, is therefore like holding your breath: if you persist you kill yourself.” — Alan Watts
Of course, learning to dance with life takes time.
It takes practice.
We often find comfort in the familiar, the predictable. But Watts saw this resistance as a source of suffering. He likened it to trying to swim upstream, a futile struggle against the current. He proposed that we learn to “surf the waves of change” to ride the crest of the unknown with grace and acceptance.
Let go.
Release your grip on the fixed, the predictable, the neatly-ordered narrative you thought your life would be. Unclench your fists. Embrace the unknown, not with fear, but with curiosity, with a child’s wonder. It’s a leap, yes, but the air beneath you won’t let you fall. It’s the breath of life itself, waiting to carry you.
And then, you dance.
You don’t need to know the steps or the routines. Feel the rhythm, let it move you. Every unexpected turn, every stumble is a chance to improvise, to adapt with the universe’s grand unfolding. You might find yourself surfing the waves of change, not just riding them out but riding them with meaning.
If life is the current, ride the waves. In the process, a transformation washes over you. The fear melts away, replaced by a fierce, exhilarating freedom. Fully embrace the complete experience.
Laugh in the face of the absurd.
“Everything is change. Nothing can be held on to. And if you go with the flux, you flow with it. However, if you resist the stream, it fights you. If you realise this, you swim with the flow — you go with it, and you’re at peace. This is particularly true when it comes to those moments when life really seems to be taking us away, and the stream of change is going to swallow us completely. — Alan Watts
You’re not just a passenger in life but a pilot, carving your own path. As the world opens up, possibilities will stretch before you. Plunge with what resonates with you — embrace the ever-shifting present.
Freedom awaits, not in the absence of change, but in the embrace of its dance. You won’t just make sense of change; you’ll become a part of it.
It doesn’t mean we should be passive.
Not at all.
Watts firmly believed in taking action and shaping our lives within the context of the larger flow. But he thought an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things should guide action. He called this “right action,” an action that is in harmony with the natural flow of the universe.
It’s about recognising that the river of life, though unpredictable, holds a wisdom far more significant than our own. It’s about stepping off the comforts of our safe zone and allowing ourselves to live fully, to dance with the tide.
And in that dance, you might just find yourself.
You might find the freedom you never knew existed, the joy that springs from the very heart of change. You might find, to your surprise, that uncertainty isn’t something to fear but a source of endless wonder.
“When you get free from certain fixed concepts of the way the world is, you find it is far more subtle, and far more miraculous, than you thought it was,” says Watts.
“The greater the resistance, the greater the pain”
Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be experienced. The only way to enjoy our unique “temporary” passage in time is to let go of our expectations and fears and simply dance with the ever-shifting reality that surrounds us.
Watts observed it’s a path to a life of joy, acceptance, and deep connection with ourselves and the world. To resist change is to stand on shaky ground, forever bracing for the next torrent. But to truly live, to make sense of your ever-shifting life, is to dance with change.
“Everything is perpetually becoming new,” says Watts. But the process is not linear; yes, moments of uncertainty and doubt are guaranteed. But in the unknown lies possibilities. Each new twist of experience builds strength for the next one.
When life throws you a curveball, don’t brace for impact. Take a deep breath, let go, and join the dance.
The music is already playing, my friend. The only way to make sense of a shifting reality is to become a part of it.
Before you go, reflect on this quote by Watts, “Let go!” and “Walk on!” Drop the craving for self, for permanence, for particular circumstances, and go straight ahead with the movement of life.”
If you enjoy learning about humanity’s greatest thinkers, you might like Perennial Learner tools/lessons for life. I break down concepts, principles, ancient wisdom and timeless habits for levelling up.