Within the Daoist tradition, wu wei is understood as a capacity rooted in the very nature of being human, not as a rare privilege reserved for a spiritual elite. Because all beings participate in the Dao, every person is seen as having the potential to act in effortless harmony with it. Wu wei is thus not something added from outside, but a return to an original, unforced way of being that has been obscured rather than lost. In this sense, it is regarded as theoretically accessible to anyone, regardless of background or status.

At the same time, the path toward wu wei is not instantaneous, nor is it usually stable at first. Habitual striving, rigid self-images, strong ego-identification, and anxiety about outcomes tend to block this natural ease. Social conditioning that prizes force, control, competition, and constant self-assertion further pulls conduct away from effortless action. Overcoming these tendencies generally requires a period of cultivation: simplifying life where possible, quieting the mind, and engaging in practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and moral self-rectification.

This cultivation unfolds gradually, as conditioned patterns of forcing and overthinking are unlearned and replaced by a deeper trust in natural rhythms. Through such practice, one develops sensitivity to timing and appropriateness, learning when to act and when to refrain, and becoming more attuned to the subtle workings of the Dao in each situation. Over time, effort becomes less conspicuous, and actions can arise more spontaneously, effectively, and without strain, even though considerable dedication may have been required to reach that point.

Daoist thought also suggests that wu wei is not an all-or-nothing attainment, but something that can appear in degrees and moments. Many experience brief glimpses of this state in activities where there is a sense of “flow” or natural ease, even if such experiences are not yet pervasive or enduring. Sagehood represents a more stable embodiment of wu wei, which is considered rare, yet still open in principle to all. Differences in temperament and life circumstances may make this realization more or less accessible, but they do not negate the underlying potential shared by every person.