Author and philosopher Jason Gregory argues that Taoism remains misunderstood and underappreciated because it requires a radical acceptance of our full humanity, flaws and all.

“Taoism has never been widely accepted because we lack the ability to be radically human, flaws and all,” Gregory wrote in a LinkedIn post. “We are constantly at odds with our own humanity. Just being a natural human is a challenge for many of us because we’ve all been put through the wringer of socialization, which warps our original nature.”

Gregory explains that while many religions and societal systems instill fear and discipline to control behavior—often centered around anxieties about death—Taoism encourages individuals to embrace uncertainty and accept life’s natural transformations without fear. Rather than imposing doctrine, Taoism offers a path to deprogram the social conditioning that suggests we are fundamentally flawed. Gregory emphasizes that Taoism teaches that humans are already complete, and that true peace comes from understanding and aligning with our innate nature.

Jason Gregory is the author of Effortless Living: Wu-Wei and the Spontaneous State of Natural Harmony and the forthcoming The Tradition of Natural Taoism, available for pre-order here. His teachings synthesize Eastern wisdom and spiritual psychology, offering readers a framework for resilience that arises not from resistance, but from harmony with the natural flow of life.