“Whenever possible, win without fighting or, at the very least, to win the easiest battles first.” — Sun Tzu
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” — Sun Tzu
“You’re more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don’t merely try harder, try differently.” — James Clear
“The Lizard had the tree in mind when challenging the Dog to a fight.”
“You have to work hard to discover how to work smart. You won’t know the best solutions until you’ve made nearly all the mistakes.” — James Clear 1
Often, strategy outweighs sheer effort.
Never press the “Try/Grind Harder” button. Instead, build a sustainable systems for achieving goals.
Refuse to feel rushed. This becomes possible by deeply understanding your priorities.
- 從容不迫
- 不疾不徐
“No pain, no gain.” → “With pain, less gain.”
不必使盡全力，用四分之三的氣力做事就夠了
- 用四分之三的氣力完成一件作品或是一件事的成果才是最好的。
- 因為使盡全力完成的東西，只會讓人覺得沉重、緊繃不已，也會散發一股「世故味」。
- 相反的，用四分之三的氣力完成的東西，不但讓人感覺從容，也能給人安心、舒適的印象。
The Law of Reversed Effort
“The harder we try with the conscious will to do something, the less we shall succeed.” — Aldous Huxley
- A Zen parable:
A martial arts student approaches his teacher and asks, “How long will it take me to master this craft?”
The teacher replies, “10 years.”
The student, looking impatient, responds, “I want to master it faster than that. I will work harder than anyone else. I will push myself to practice for many hours every single day. I won’t rest until I become a master. How long will it take then?”
The teacher considers this new information, smiles, and answers, “20 years.”
- Examples
- When you press to try to complete a creative task, you become less creative.
- When you actively push to try to find the perfect partner, you rarely find that person.
- When you try to force yourself to fall asleep, you stare at the ceiling awake.
- Action: The 85% Rule (Balanced Effort)
The Riptide Mentality (The “Downward Spiral” Technique)
At certain times in your life, there are going to be subtle, hidden, external forces conspiring against you—pulling you further away from your desired destination.
In these moments, your instincts will tell you to fight back against those forces. You’ll breathe faster, push harder, and strain against them.
But these instincts may lead you astray: You may be caught in a riptide—and in a riptide, the best course of action is the opposite of what your instincts tell you.
In these moments, when you feel the currents are too strong to resist, allow yourself the freedom to relax and let it take you.
Once it inevitably dissipates, you will have the energy and fortitude to safely navigate to your destination.
Perhaps the best course of action is to conserve energy now and deploy it more effectively later.
Resistance amplifies negative emotions. Acceptance diffuses them. It’s like quicksand: The more you fight, the deeper you sink. Observing the struggle without judgment creates mental space for solutions to emerge naturally.
See also:
Footnotes
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See also: Specialization is for insects ↩