If you look through chinese history there are many interesting stories with amazing implications.
One i find interesting is about Chuang Tzu, a significant philosopher of Taoism.
1st part.
One day a student Chuang Tzu travelled in the mountain and met a logger who was lumbering. What seemed quite odd was that the logger ignored a tree not far from him.
Why? The student asked.
The logger replied that the tree was not strong and thus not useful in boat making. It would then be a waste of time to cut it down.
People only know the usefulness of the useful but easily forget the usefulness of the useless. To be USELESS is a way to preserve ones life which is of great usefulness sometimes.
2nd part.
After leaving the forest, later in the day the student paid a visit to an old friend who was pleasantry surprised. The then master ordered the servant to prepare dinner for the guest made of chicken stew.
There were two cocks in the homestead, one which could cackle and another which couldn’t. The master ordered the second be slaughtered.
The student of Chuang Tzu was surprised. The tree that had no Exceptional quality had succeded in completing its natural span, while the cock had to die because it had no exceptional qualities.
Why?
If you cannot view situations from a higher point of view, none of these qualities or methods can guarantee you safety or the success you desire.
Abolish oneself, be versatile, sometimes being useless is more useful than being useful and vise versa.
Use this to find meaning in a world full of competition and conflict.