Stop Trying to Get It And You'll Have It | The Backwards Law
Einzelgänger・9 minutes read
Striving for constant achievement can deepen feelings of lack and dissatisfaction, according to the law of reversed effort explained through a pink elephant simile. To find true contentment, one must negate the will and let go of the pursuit of more, as indicated by German philosopher Schopenhauer.
Insights
- The pink elephant simile highlights the ineffectiveness of forcefully eradicating intrusive thoughts, emphasizing the challenge of controlling our minds.
- The concept of the backwards law reveals that the pursuit of external achievements often leads to a deepening sense of lack, suggesting that true contentment comes from negating the constant desire for more and embracing a state of contentment.
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Recent questions
What does the pink elephant simile represent?
The pink elephant simile represents the difficulty of eliminating intrusive thoughts by force. It symbolizes negative emotions like sadness, stress, anger, or boredom that are hard to get rid of.
What is the law of reversed effort?
The law of reversed effort, also known as the backwards law, suggests that the more we pursue something, the more we achieve the opposite of what we truly desire. It highlights the idea that striving too hard for something can lead to the opposite result.
Is willpower effective for internal desires?
Willpower is effective for external achievements like wealth or physical feats, but the backwards law emphasizes the importance of focusing on what we truly desire internally. It suggests that pursuing external goals may not lead to true contentment.
Why do humans tend to pursue more despite dissatisfaction?
Humans have a tendency to pursue more as a way to alleviate dissatisfaction, but this pursuit often deepens the feeling of lack. This perpetual seeking is driven by the will-to-live, according to philosopher Schopenhauer, leading to ongoing dissatisfaction.
How can one achieve true contentment?
True contentment can be achieved by negating the will, which involves letting go of constant striving and desires. By embracing a state free of pursuit and full of contentment, one can find true peace and satisfaction in life.
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Summary
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The Pink Elephant: Pursuing Contentment Without Striving
- The pink elephant simile illustrates the difficulty of getting rid of intrusive thoughts by force.
- Dissatisfaction with life is compared to the pink elephant, representing negative emotions like sadness, stress, anger, or boredom.
- The law of reversed effort, or the backwards law, suggests that the more we pursue something, the more we achieve the opposite of what we truly want.
- Willpower is effective for external achievements like wealth or running a marathon, but the backwards law focuses on getting what we truly desire.
- The human tendency to continually pursue more as a cure for dissatisfaction actually deepens the feeling of lack.
- German philosopher Schopenhauer argues that the will-to-live causes us to seek more than we need, leading to perpetual dissatisfaction.
- The only way to be truly content is to negate the will, leading to a state free of striving and full of contentment.
