Striving too hard can be counterproductive in achieving success from "summary" of Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland
Our modern culture tends to place a high value on effort and hard work when it comes to achieving success. The prevailing belief is that the more effort we put in, the greater our chances of success. However, what if this belief is actually misguided? What if striving too hard can actually hinder our chances of success rather than help them?In the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism, there is a concept known as wu-wei, which can be translated as "effortless action" or "non-doing". This concept challenges the common notion that success is directly proportional to the amount of effort we exert. Instead, it suggests that trying too hard can actually be counterproductive. By striving too hard, we can disrupt the natural flow of things and end up getting in our own way. One of the key principles of wu-wei is the idea of going with the flow, of allowing things to unfold naturally without forcing them. This doesn't mean being passive or lazy, but rather being attuned to the rhythms of the world and acting in accordance with them. When we are in a state of wu-wei, we are able to tap into a kind of effortless effectiveness that allows us to achieve success with ease. This concept may seem paradoxical in a culture that values hard work and perseverance above all else. However, it is worth considering whether our relentless striving is truly the most effective path to success. Perhaps by learning to let go of our need to control every outcome and instead surrendering to the natural course of events, we can actually increase our chances of achieving our goals.- The idea that striving too hard can be counterproductive in achieving success challenges our deeply ingrained beliefs about the relationship between effort and outcome. By embracing the concept of wu-wei and learning to work with the natural flow of things rather than against it, we may find that success comes more easily and effortlessly than we ever imagined.
