真正让生活变好的,不是勤奋而是思维,新年给自己立一条思维原则
What Truly Improves Life Is Not Diligence but the Way We Think: A Principle for the New Year
勤奋,的确很重要,但它的作用常被高估。我更喜欢段永平说的:“做对的事情,把事情做对。”
Diligence certainly matters, but its effect is often overestimated. I prefer Duan Yongping's advice: ‘Do the right things, and do things right.’
勤奋,的确很重要,但它的作用常被高估。我更喜欢段永平说的:“做对的事情,把事情做对。”
Diligence certainly matters, but its effect is often overestimated. I prefer Duan Yongping's advice: “Do the right things, and do things right.”
在没有正确方向和方法的情况下,单纯的勤奋往往收效甚微。相比勤奋努力地做事,做正确的事、正确地做事永远更为重要。大道至简,但常识往往被忽视。
Without the right direction and method, diligence alone often produces very little. Doing the right things and doing them correctly will always matter more than working hard. The greatest truths are simple, yet common sense is often overlooked.
史蒂芬·柯维在《高效能人士的七个习惯》里写道:“如果我们只想让生活发生相对小的变化,那么专注于自己的态度和行为即可,但是实质性的生活变化还是要靠思维的转换。”
Stephen Covey wrote in *The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People*: “If we want to make relatively small changes in our lives, we can focus on our attitudes and behavior. But substantial changes in life require a shift in the way we think.”
他认为,行为和态度犹如枝叶,思维定式则是根基,抓住根本才能让生活出现实质性的进展。
He believed that behavior and attitude are like branches and leaves, while our paradigms form the roots. Only by addressing the foundation can we achieve substantial progress in life.
很多时候,人的思维转换,往往发生在重大事件之后,例如角色的变化,或是重大挫折,甚至是生死关头。此时,人才会大彻大悟。
Major shifts in thinking often occur after significant events: a change in role, a serious setback, or even an encounter with life and death. Only then may a person experience a profound awakening.
比如,大病一场后,人才真正体会到健康第一。重大投资亏损后,才懂得投资的风险控制比收益更重要。成为父母后,才深切理解父母的辛劳与深情。
After a serious illness, for example, we may finally understand that health comes first. After suffering a major investment loss, we may realize that controlling risk matters more than returns. After becoming parents, we may deeply appreciate our own parents' hardship and love.
思维,是我们看待世界的方式,是我们的人生地图。如果地图不对,朝着某条路使劲走,还是会碰壁,甚至走到死胡同。
Our way of thinking is how we see the world; it is the map of our life. If the map is wrong, pressing ahead along a particular road will still lead us into walls or even a dead end.
比如,我们常听说的第一性原理,就是一个非常重要的思维模式,简单说就是回归本质。
First-principles thinking, which we often hear about, is one highly important model of thought. Put simply, it means returning to what is essential.
工作的第一性是创造价值,而不是单纯出卖时间。
The first principle of work is creating value, not merely selling our time.
家庭的第一性是深度情感,而不是物质的丰富。
The first principle of family is deep emotional connection, not material abundance.
教育的第一性是提升能力,而不是灌输知识。
The first principle of education is building capability, not instilling knowledge.
财富的第一性是获得自由,而不是追求金钱本身。
The first principle of wealth is gaining freedom, not pursuing money for its own sake.
健康的第一性是可持续的好习惯,而不是短期的极端节食和锻炼。
The first principle of health is maintaining sustainable good habits, not following extreme diets or exercise regimens for a short time.
人际关系的第一性是共同成长,而不是利益交换。
The first principle of relationships is growing together, not exchanging benefits.
深刻理解第一性思维,才能抓住本质,避免走偏。
Only by understanding first-principles thinking deeply can we grasp what is essential and avoid losing our way.
再如,我比较喜欢的汉隆剃刀原则:“能解释为愚蠢的,就不要解释为恶意。”
Another example is Hanlon's razor, a principle I particularly like: “Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.”
即使一个人对你做出了让你难堪、不悦、失望、痛苦的事情,也不应过多地怀疑他的动机,而应抱以善意来对待,认为是他的能力不足,而不是他的恶意。其实,大多数时候,事实就是这样。
Even when someone does something that embarrasses, displeases, disappoints, or hurts us, we should not be too quick to question their motives. We should respond with goodwill and assume that the cause is a lack of ability rather than malice. Most of the time, that is in fact the case.
秉承这个思维原则,我们待人会更加简单、友善和包容。
By following this principle, we can treat other people with greater simplicity, kindness, and acceptance.
新的一年,我再给自己设立一条思维原则,希望自己能践行好。
For the new year, I am setting another principle of thought for myself, and I hope to put it into practice well.
这条思维我称之为“弓箭手思维”,来自于斯多葛哲学。
I call it the “archer's mindset,” and it comes from Stoic philosophy.
“以弓箭手的态度对待其他一切外在事物:虽然击中目标是你的目的,但请记住,一旦箭离开了弓,它的轨迹可能会因为突然刮来的一阵风而改变,目标本身也会有不可预见的移动。
“Approach everything external with the attitude of an archer: although hitting the target is your aim, remember that once the arrow leaves the bow, its course may be altered by a sudden gust of wind, and the target itself may move in an unforeseen way.
将你的目标从外部转移到内部:反复告诉自己,你的目的不是击中目标,而是尽你所能射出最好的一箭。”
Shift your goal from the external to the internal. Remind yourself repeatedly that your purpose is not to hit the target, but to shoot the best arrow you possibly can.”
我们需要培养智慧,从而能够区分什么在我们的掌控之下,什么不在我们的掌控之下,进而有勇气解决前者,平静接受后者。
We need to cultivate the wisdom to distinguish what is under our control from what is not, and then find the courage to address the former and the calm to accept the latter.
人生很难快乐的主要原因,就是我们倾向于渴望错误的东西,这些东西就是我们无法控制的东西。
One of the main reasons happiness is so difficult is that we tend to desire the wrong things—the things we cannot control.
好的做法是把精力集中在你能决定的事情上。简单说,就是秉承自己的原则,做好自己的思考和行动。而对于结果,当它们好时,我们高兴和感激,当它们不好时,我们不归咎于他人,也不责怪自己。
A better approach is to focus our energy on what we can decide. Put simply, we should uphold our principles and take responsibility for our own thought and action. As for outcomes, when they are good, we can feel happy and grateful; when they are not, we should neither blame others nor condemn ourselves.
这样,我们才能平静地度过一生,泰然自若应对一切。
Only then can we move through life peacefully and meet whatever comes with composure.