By Shelli Wright & Dr. Katherine Boutry
The Tao of Maybe
What if it all works out?
The quiet art of living inside uncertainty — holding maybe with an open hand, and finding calm amid the stress instead of waiting to escape it.
See for yourself
A short taste of Maybe
Let go of the outcome
Control is an illusion. Holding maybe with an open palm leaves room for what you cannot yet see.
Trade hope for trust
Hope is a four-letter word — it lives in a future that isn’t here. The opposite of hope isn’t despair; it’s trust.
Rewire the habit
Neuroscience meets ancient wisdom: simple daily exercises retrain the brain’s stress loops toward calm.
What readers are saying
“Maybe.”
★★★★★ Loved by readers on Amazon and beyond.
A beautifully simple yet profoundly impactful read. I find myself stopping and saying “Maybe” a lot more in my daily life — Maybe I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. There’s a deep sense of calm and reassurance that comes with embracing the unknown.
Don’t hesitate to add this book to your library TODAY. Literally life-changing wisdom presented in a way that is accessible, compelling, and relatable. I’d give it 10 stars if that was an option.
Possibly one of the highest returns on investment you’ll read — easy to get through, but full of excellent anecdotes and philosophies that will change your perspective even within 2 chapters. If you’re curious about how to be less anxious or just plain happier, this is worth your time!
I LOVED The Tao of Maybe. So good. A great attitude reset for the new year. Thank you again for sending it to me — I’m going to share it with others.
A gem — filled with fascinating, heartfelt stories and a chill, easygoing pace that makes it a true joy to read. Sometimes you just want a dose of perspective-shifting motivation that flows effortlessly and hits deep. This book delivers exactly that.
After reading a page or two every morning over breakfast, we finally wrapped up Shelli’s book. We laughed and cried, and we’re sad it’s over… This book is soo good.
This book has changed the way I view certain things in my life. Very eloquent in how the subject is presented. A must-read for those looking for a little more perspective in their life.
If you like self-help books that are not really self-help books — like Candide, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Alchemist — check out The Tao of Maybe. It’s REALLY GOOD!!!
A quick note of thanks for the recommendation. The wisdom in its practices is very encouraging and comforting.
Follow along
@taoofmaybe
“What terrible news, how unlucky!” cried the neighbors. To which the farmer replied, “Maybe.”
From $7.99 · paperback & eBook
Start your Maybe practice today
A plan to undo the stress program running our brains — applying the science of neuroplasticity to 2,000-year-old Taoist wisdom. Through the parable of the farmer who meets every twist of fortune with a single word, “Maybe,” Shelli Wright and Dr. Katherine Boutry offer simple, tangible exercises for trading hope and fear for trust and curiosity.
Paperback printed on demand & shipped in the US · eBook delivered digitally.
Join the Maybe list
Reflections, exercises, and news on the book and podcast — no rush, no noise.
About the authors
Shelli Wright
Shelli is an east-coast raised, west-coast softened, Rutgers graduate. Though her career has taken more pivots than a Broadway show, writing has always played a key role — from her early days as an ad agency copywriter in NYC (Samsung, Volkswagen, TJ Maxx, Fox Sports…); to producer of live theater (Six Flags theme parks and Isle of Capri Casinos); to event producer (Austin City Limits, Target, Coca-Cola, Special Olympics, Google, and celebrity fundraisers at The Hollywood Improv); with many screenwriting projects in between (co-executive producer on a pilot for PBS, plus sales, options, and awards with Amazon, Austin Film Fest, Second City, and Sundance Writer’s Lab).
Additional detours include middle-school student consent workshops, founding an organic tampon company, and serving as a judge and mentor for a transformational high-security prison program. She is a traveler of over 35 countries, a mother of two, and a curious student of the world. Shelli’s formal studies of Taoism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Shinto, and Kabbalah led to the organic unfolding of personal growth — resulting in The Tao of Maybe.
Shelli is available for speaking engagements, workshops, and podcasts — bringing the art of “Maybe” to teams, conferences, and communities.
Dr. Katherine Boutry
A tenured professor and Director of the Creativity Studies Lab at West Los Angeles College, Dr. Katherine Boutry received her PhD in English Language and Literature at Harvard University, where she taught for ten years and served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies. She created the MFA Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University, and is the author of The West Guide to Writing and several articles on Creativity Studies.
Her chapter “‘Creativity takes courage’: the link between creativity studies and student well-being in the urban community college” in Creativity, Innovation, and Well-Being (2017) won the American Creativity Association Advisory Panel’s Best Essay Recognition Award, 3rd place. She is also a produced television writer.
Questions & Maybes
Frequently asked
- What is The Tao of Maybe?
- The Tao of Maybe: Happiness No Matter What is a self-help book by Shelli Wright and Dr. Katherine Boutry that pairs 2,000-year-old Taoist wisdom with the modern science of neuroplasticity. Its core practice — nonattachment to outcome, captured in a single word, “Maybe” — helps you trade anxiety, hope, and fear for trust and curiosity, and find calm amid everyday stress.
- Who is the book for?
- Busy people who want a sustained sense of inner calm without retreats, supplements, or years of meditation. It’s written for finding peace amid the stressors of modern life — in the car, in line, lying in bed at night — rather than escaping them.
- What is the “Maybe” practice?
- It comes from the parable of a farmer who answers every twist of fortune — good or bad — with a single word: “Maybe.” Instead of rushing to label events, you stay neutral and curious. The book turns that mindset into simple daily exercises that gradually rewire the brain’s stress habits.
- Is The Tao of Maybe religious?
- No. It draws on Taoist and Buddhist ideas and references many traditions, but it’s a practical, secular guide to managing stress and finding contentment — grounded in neuroscience and everyday stories rather than doctrine.
- Who wrote it?
- Shelli Wright — a writer and Rutgers graduate with a career spanning advertising copywriting, live theater, event production, and screenwriting, and a lifelong student of Taoism, Buddhism, and other traditions — together with Dr. Katherine Boutry. Shelli is also available for speaking engagements, workshops, and podcasts.
- Where can I buy The Tao of Maybe?
- You can buy it right here on this page — choose the paperback (printed on demand and shipped to you in the US) or the eBook (an instant EPUB download that opens in Apple Books, Google Play Books, and most e-readers). The paperback is also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What if it all works out…
— Jitterbug