Alan Watts’ Teachings: Don’t Take Life Too Seriously
Do you ever feel like you’re playing a game where everyone knows the rules but you? Philosopher Alan Watts offered a radical solution: put down the scorecard and enjoy the play. This isn’t a call to stop caring. In fact, he taught a crucial difference between being sincere and being serious, a key to overcoming the fear of making mistakes in the Alan Watts philosophy of play.
A serious person is often rigid and anxious, what Watts called “prickly” – overthinking every move. The opposite, a “gooey” person who is checked-out, isn’t better. Sincerity is the flexible middle path. It means you care deeply about what you’re doing but remain unattached to a specific result, which is how Zen Buddhism views seriousness: as an obstacle to presence.
Consider a first date. The “serious” person rehearses lines and tries too hard, creating awkwardness. The sincere person is simply curious and present, allowing a real connection to form. In practice, letting go of seriousness doesn’t sabotage your goals; it allows the skill you already have to finally shine through.
Why You Should Stop Trying to ‘Win’ at Life and Start Dancing Instead
We often treat life like a race to a finish line, enduring the week just to get to the weekend or saving all our joy for retirement. But as philosopher Alan Watts pointed out, is the point of listening to music to get to the end? Of course not. The joy is in the melody itself. If the only goal was the finale, the best songs would be a single, final chord.
Watts preferred a different metaphor: life as a dance. The purpose of dancing isn’t to arrive at a specific spot on the floor; the purpose is the dance. Think about your own day. Are you rushing through your coffee, or scrolling through dinner? By constantly trying to get to the “good part,” you might be missing the music of your life as it happens, note by beautiful note.
This shift doesn’t mean abandoning goals. It means treating the path to them not as an obstacle, but as part of the dance. It’s about finding joy in the present moment and living life as a work of art in progress. But how can we adopt this playful spirit when we have serious roles to fill and rules we must follow?
How to Play the ‘Cosmic Game’ Without Taking It Personally
That nagging voice in your head that keeps score and replays every mistake? That’s what many call the ego. Alan Watts saw this inner narrator not as your true self, but as a part of you that desperately wants to control everything. It’s the part that takes everything personally, turning a fluid dance into a rigid competition where you are constantly being judged.
This ego then gets caught up in what Watts often referred to as the “games” of society. Think of your “work self” or your “family self.” Each role has its own rules, expectations, and goals. These games are a necessary part of life, but the key is remembering that you are the player, not the piece on the board.
The trouble starts when your ego convinces you that you are the role. When this happens, a critical email doesn’t just feel like feedback; it feels like a threat to your very identity. This is why the fear of making mistakes can be so paralyzing, and it highlights the benefits of not taking things personally. Letting go of this illusion of control is the first step toward genuine peace.
Realizing this offers incredible freedom. You can still play the game of your career and play it well, but with a lighter touch. A mistake becomes a learning moment, not a personal failure. This art of acting skillfully while being unattached to the outcome is a powerful practice – one that allows you to move with life instead of constantly fighting against it.
A Simple Guide to Wu Wei: Letting Go in Your Daily Life
So, how do you actually move with life instead of constantly fighting it? Alan Watts often drew on an idea from Taoism that can be thought of as “effortless action.” Imagine you’re in a sailboat. You could try to row frantically against the wind, exhausting yourself for little gain. Or, you could learn to hoist the sail and use the power of the wind to guide you where you want to go. This isn’t about being lazy; it’s about acting intelligently, aligning your efforts with the natural flow of things.
You can practice this skill anytime with a simple sensory reset. When you feel your ego spinning a story of stress, just pause. For 30 seconds, name three things you can see without judgment (a crack in the wall, the color of your cup) and two sounds you can hear without labeling them as good or bad. This simple act pulls you out of the anxious chatter in your head and returns you to the reality of the present moment.
Practicing this regularly builds a new habit: responding to what is instead of reacting to your own worries. This is the root of true spontaneity. It’s not about being chaotic or irresponsible; it’s about being open enough to meet the moment with fresh eyes, free from a pre-written mental script. This is the art of letting go.
Your First Step to a More Playful Life (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Before, life’s pressures may have felt like a script you were forced to follow. You now have the perspective to see it differently – as a dance, not a march. This Alan Watts teaching isn’t about ignoring your responsibilities; it’s about letting go of the illusion of control and playing your part with a lighter heart.
Your first step is simple. For the next 24 hours, try to meet one small thing that goes “wrong” – a spilled coffee, a wrong turn – with a quiet chuckle instead of a cringe. That’s it. That’s the beginning of the dance.
This isn’t another goal to achieve perfectly. It is a practice in finding joy and getting lighter. Each moment of play is a gentle rebellion against seriousness, reminding you to live not with less care, but with more grace.