Useful or useless

                                    Of use or of no use

One day, while reading Zhuangzi, I came across a passage discussing the idea of "uselessness." It tells the story of an old tree that carpenters reject because its wood is twisted and poor in quality—unsuitable for making furniture. Yet, because of that, it escapes being chopped down and gets to live for a hundred years. This made me think: usefulness and uselessness are relative concepts. Something is only "useful" depending on to whom or for what purpose.

In modern society, our lifestyles often pressure us to constantly be useful. Work is heavy, our attention is scattered, and the world seems to demand our productivity without pause. If we're not "useful enough," we fear becoming obsolete. But isn't that an overly narrow and anxiety-ridden way of living?

Many things—people included—may appear "useless" from one angle but incredibly valuable from another. Someone who dislikes a 9-to-5 job might be seen as unmotivated, but with good writing skills or a unique perspective, they could flourish in art or independent media. Likewise, a man skilled in hand-weaving may be deemed "unmanly" by society's stereotypes, but his craftsmanship could be deeply appreciated by those who value beauty, patience, and artistry.

We also see people today choosing to "lie flat"—stepping back from the rat race under social and economic pressure. While society may label that as "useless," for the individual, it could be a vital period of rest and recovery.

This shows that we are constantly being judged—by society or collective norms—based on whether we are "useful" or "useless." And more often than not, we're defined as the latter. No wonder so many people feel a deep sense of inner disillusionment. But are we truly useful or useless? Not really—it's just that our vision has become narrow, allowing us to see only a small fragment of the whole picture. And that fragment often gets blown out of proportion, making us internalize feelings of worthlessness.

The idea of "usefulness" is also highly dependent on time. What's deemed useful in one era may be outdated in another. But does that make it truly useless? Not at all. Many ancient crafts are now lost—not because they were never valuable, but because they weren't preserved. That makes me reflect on the relationship between ourselves and the outside world: if we lose sight of our own intrinsic worth and blindly follow societal expectations, we edge closer to spiritual demise.

It becomes crucial, then, to discern carefully between society's definitions of usefulness and our own truth. Only through this discernment can we avoid being swept away by the currents of social pressure and instead find our own unique path.

Usefulness always depends on the user's perspective. From the used perspective, being "useful" may bring no benefit at all. From birth, we are conditioned to meet expectations: get an education, earn a degree, be kind, compromise, marry, raise children, fit into the flow of society. Along the way, we're labeled over and over again—until we lose touch with who we really are.

Much of today's emotional burnout stems from being squeezed by the relentless demand to be useful. But we forget: a person who is anxious and tense cannot function at their best. That's why, paradoxically, the more relaxed our mindset is, the more effective our actions become. We must also learn to allow ourselves to be "useless" sometimes. This is how we peel off the countless invisible labels and remember who we truly are. Without that, we drift further away from the essence of loving ourselves.

I'm reminded of the ancient story of "Sai Weng loses his horse—who knows if it's a blessing or a curse?" The protagonist doesn't blindly follow what others expect; instead, he finds another path entirely, revealing profound wisdom. That story gave me a sense of relief and clarity. Whether useful or useless, the point is to live a life that flows with joy and meaning.

If our life becomes one of constant scrambling and collapse, no matter how useful we appear to be, the world won't necessarily become a better place. Every person has a unique talent. Find it. The labels of "useful"or "useless" cannot define your whole life. To live as your true self—that is the real act of self-love.

#Limiting Definitions and Labels #Self Awareness #Wisdom