is less really more?

breaking free of the atlas complex

There was a point in my life where I was convinced that if I didn’t bear the weight of the world on my shoulders, everything would fall apart. The bills would go unpaid, the deadlines unmet, and the relationships neglected. 

I was in full-on “Atlas Complex” mode, carrying life on my shoulders and back — taking pride in my role as the fixer, the doer, the indispensable one. 

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you’ve been there—feeling like you’re holding everything up, only to realize one day that your knees are starting to buckle under the weight.

As much as it felt noble, I was drained. What made it worse? I wasn’t actually getting more done. In fact, I realized that my productivity was spiraling downward. 

Every task I added to my plate didn’t result in me achieving more. Rather, it resulted in me getting stuck in the weeds.

When More Is Actually Less

In the midst of one of my Atlas-like episodes, I stumbled upon the book  “80/20 Principle” by Richard Koch. Also known as the Pareto Principle, the idea that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts was so simple yet seemed too good to be true. But after years of pushing myself to exhaustion, I started to see that maybe it wasn’t about doing everything but doing the right things.

Eastern philosophy had always whispered this truth to me as well—whether it’s the Taoist concept of wu wei (effortless action) or the Buddhist middle path. These ideas suggested that doing less, and doing it with intention, would bring more harmony and success. 

My “Atlas” Moment of Surrender

There was a day in the 90’s when I was living in Chicago—a particularly hectic one—when I realized something had to change. I had 14 things on my to-do list, and I was furiously trying to complete them all, hopping between projects like a squirrel on caffeine. But I wasn’t getting any closer to feeling accomplished. Instead, I felt scattered, irritable, and, of course, weighed down by my self-imposed burden.

And then it hit me—like an old Zen proverb sneaking up from the recesses of my mind—“He who chases two rabbits catches neither.” 

I was trying to chase 14 rabbits. That’s when I decided to surrender. I threw out the list (okay, not all of it) and focused on just one thing. Miraculously, by doing less, I found myself achieving more while doing better.

The 80/20 Revelation: Less Is More, Atlas

The turning point for me was seeing that most of my energy was going into tasks that, frankly, didn’t matter that much. It was my attempt to be everything to everyone that was breaking me down. I took Koch’s advice to heart—cutting away the noise and focusing on the 20% of tasks that actually moved the needle in my life.

If Atlas were here today, I’d hand him Koch’s book and suggest he lighten his load by focusing on the essentials. You don’t need to carry the world to make an impact—most of the world doesn’t need to be carried at all.

A Little Eastern Wisdom: Stop Doing and Start Being

Eastern philosophy is brilliant at reminding us that life isn’t about doing more, it’s about being in harmony with the flow. Taoist sages like Lao Tzu didn’t carry the world; they let it float around them while they stood in the middle, quietly observing. Wu wei isn’t about inaction, it’s about effortless action—knowing when to step back and when to engage.

So if you’re like I was—busy carrying too much—ask yourself: Is the weight you’re carrying self-imposed? Are you doing things that really matter, or are you stuck in the weeds trying to do it all?

Sage Advice for the Recovering Atlas

Here are a few insights I’ve picked up after many years of trying (and failing) to carry too much:

1. Identify Your 20%: Take stock of your life and ask yourself, “What activities or relationships are giving me the most fulfillment or results?” Focus your energy there.

2. Practice Wu Wei: Next time you’re overwhelmed, try doing nothing. Not forever, but long enough to realize that the world doesn’t fall apart when you step back. In fact, sometimes, things fall into place on their own.

3. Set Boundaries: Saying “no” is a superpower. Learn to say no to the tasks and people who aren’t part of your 20%, and you’ll have more energy to give to what really matters.

4. Celebrate Imperfection: Perfectionism is one of the sneakiest ways to trick yourself into carrying the world. Let things be unfinished, imperfect, or messy. You’ll be surprised how much peace that brings.

Atlas Can Rest: You Don’t Need to Do It All

At the end of the day, the Atlas Complex is self-imposed. We carry the weight of the world because we think we need to. But in reality, doing less—with focus and intention—can lead to doing more in the long run. 

So take it from a recovering Atlas: let the world carry itself for a while. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you stop trying to do it all.

After all, Atlas didn’t ask for the job. Maybe it’s time to give him a break.