Reader Reviews:
"I read this book word by word, and I'll read it again. I love this kind of writing—simple yet logically clear. What moved me was the cultural sentiment woven throughout."

"This book has given me so much insight into daily life. I now see things in a more balanced way. Truly a rare gem."

"By harnessing the power of holistic thinking, we can gradually free ourselves from the trivial distractions of everyday life and focus on what truly matters."

"As a Korean scholar researching psychology at an American university, this book resonated with me deeply. The author’s profound insights into timeless wisdom rooted in ancient traditions, combined with personal experience and scientific understanding, feel entirely fresh and illuminating. This book successfully articulates the valuable psychological contributions of Chinese and East Asian cultures to human flourishing, offering profound guidance on how to live a thriving life in the modern world."
—Park Lanshu, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan; Director, Center for Positive Psychology

★From “over-control” to “open acceptance”: Using Eastern wisdom to overcome modern anxiety.
★A masterpiece by renowned Chinese psychologist Zhao Yukun, who studied under Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology.
★ Ancient traditional wisdom × Modern psychological perspectives × Practical life strategies.
★ Highly recommended for anyone seeking to strengthen their psychological resilience.

Why does society grow more prosperous while our minds feel increasingly unsettled?
When standing at life's crossroads, how can we make wiser decisions?
How can we sustain passion and vitality and become people of great energy?
How can we understand traditional wisdom through a scientific lens and truly master the Chinese heart-mind method?
How can we explore the true meaning of life and achieve spiritual fulfillment and inner abundance?

The answers to life's essential questions lie within the living of each moment.

In this book, the author draws on the essence of Chinese culture, integrates perspectives from modern psychology, and considers the differences between Eastern and Western cultures to offer a unique and practical approach to psychological well-being. He systematically lays out the methods of cultivating the heart-mind found in Chinese culture, delving deeply into eight forms of traditional wisdom across cognitive, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. By incorporating modern scientific theories and methods such as positive psychology and cultural psychology, he reveals how Chinese culture can help us overcome psychological struggles and enjoy a flourishing life.

Zhao Yukun

Renowned psychologist.
Ph.D. in Psychology, Tsinghua University; Master of Applied Psychology, University of Pennsylvania.
Advisory Committee Member, International Positive Psychology Association; Secretary-General, Positive Psychology Research Center, Tsinghua University; Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

After earning three master's degrees in the United States—in chemistry, computer science, and psychology—Zhao Yukun resigned from a financial firm in New York to pursue his deep questions about meaning and happiness. He studied under Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, and has since dedicated himself to promoting positive education and well-being in China.

He is the author of Sixteen Lectures on Positive Psychology from Tsinghua University, No Action, No Happiness, A Positive Life in Negative Times, and Autonomous Parenting: A Guide for Parents in an Age of Anxiety. He has also translated several works, including Flourish, Lifelong Kindergarten, and The Gardener and the Carpenter.

Part One: The Modern Relevance of Chinese Culture // 001

Chapter 1: How Chinese Culture Helps Modern People Navigate Psychological Challenges // 002
Section 1: Ancient Genes Lost in Supernormal Stimuli // 002
Section 2: The Icarus Trap: Psychological Anomalies in Affluent Societies // 008
Section 3: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Eastern and Western Cultures // 013
Section 4: The Return of the Chinese Psyche // 017

Part Two: The Chinese Way of Thinking // 021

Chapter 2: Holistic Connection: Seeing the Full Picture of Problems and the Psyche // 022
Section 1: Holistic Thinking: Cognitive Differences Between Chinese and Westerners // 022
Section 2: The Value of Connection // 027
Section 3: Affective Forecasting Bias: Your Pursuit of the Future May Be an Illusion // 032
Section 4: Integration and Fusion: Why Jung Called Himself a Follower of the Dao // 035
Social Perspective: Seeing the Big Picture—Why Depression Rates Are Lower Among Chinese People // 042

Chapter 3: Adapting to Change: An Even Mind and Non-Attachment // 045
Section 1: Dialectical Thinking: Are Chinese People Less Happy Than Westerners? // 045
Section 2: Embracing Change: Do Chinese or Westerners Prefer "Buying High and Selling Low"? // 049
Section 3: Going with the Flow: How Chinese People Confront Uncertainty // 052
Section 4: Acting Without Striving: Why Bertrand Russell Hoped the West Would Cede the World Stage to China // 056
Section 5: Daoism: The Chinese Psyche's Master Therapist // 061
Section 6: Zhuangzi: Wandering Free in Pure Intrinsic Motivation // 066
Section 7: Confucianism and Daoism in Harmony: When Striving Is Necessary // 070
Section 8: How to Understand Chinese Culture // 074

Chapter 4: The Doctrine of the Mean: Avoiding Extremes and Imperfection // 083
Section 1: The Doctrine of the Mean: Balanced and Just Right // 083
Section 2: Contentment as Happiness: An Antidote to Western Perfectionism // 089
Section 3: Harmony: The Most Important Balance Among Life's Factors // 094
Section 4: Emotion Management: Suppressed Emotions in Chinese Culture // 097
Social Perspective: Expressing Emotions Appropriately—Why Chinese Emotional Patterns May Be Healthier // 100

Part Three: The Chinese Emotional World // 105

Chapter 5: Innate Human Goodness: Life Is Worth Living // 106
Section 1: The World Is Inherently Good: Why Weber Called Confucianism a True Rationalism // 106
Section 2: Human Nature Is Good: Why Lin Yutang Mocked Freud as a Groundhog // 110
Section 3: Confucius: The World's First Positive Psychologist // 115
Section 4: A Culture of Joy: What Made Bertrand Russell So Optimistic About Chinese Civilization // 119

Chapter 6: The Integration of Reason and Emotion: Thinking Rationally, Acting with Heart // 125
Section 1: Confucius: Returning Ritual to Its Emotional Roots // 125
Section 2: Mencius: Cultivating Virtue Through Inherited Emotion // 129
Section 3: The Unity of Knowing and Acting: Why Scholars May Not Live Well // 134
Section 4: Integrating Reason and Emotion: The Tension Between Mind and Heart // 139
Section 5: Cultural Emotion: Calling for a Return to the Chinese Psyche // 147

Part Four: The Chinese Spirit // 153

Chapter 7: Bearing the World with Virtue: Benevolence and a People-Centered Approach // 154
Section 1: Doing One's Best and Accepting What Fate Brings // 154
Section 2: Benevolence: Do Others Matter? // 160
Section 3: Love with Distinctions: Why Chinese Ethical Views May Align More Closely with Human Nature // 166
Section 4: People-Centered: The Measure of All Things // 171
Section 5: Context Over Principle: Where Hegel's Critique of Confucius Went Wrong // 177

Chapter 8: Striving Relentlessly: Self-Cultivation, Moderation, and Facing Responsibility // 182
Section 1: Self-Cultivation: The Secret to East Asian Success // 182
Section 2: Moderation: Indulgence Is Allowed, But Not Too Much // 186
Section 3: Responsibility: Are People Better Off with Less Burden? // 190
Section 4: The Limits of Responsibility: Why Confucian and Mencian Views Align with Psychological Principles // 195
Section 5: Autonomy: How to Dissolve the Oppressive Aspects of Traditional Culture // 201
Section 6: Suffering: Inevitable, Not to Be Glorified—Only to Be Confronted // 206

Chapter 9: The Dao Embodied in Human Life: Living a Meaningful Life // 210
Section 1: The Meaning of Life: Why Chinese Philosophy Can Heal the Emptiness of Western Philosophy // 210
Section 2: Ordinary Feelings: Constructing Meaning in the Chinese Way // 215
Section 3: The Human and the Heavenly: Transcendence for Modern Chinese People // 220
Section 4: Though Zhou Is an Ancient State, Its Calling Is Ever New // 224

Afterword: We Are Forever Walking on That Childhood Path // 231