Great article. But since you mention the bastardizing of eastern philosophy for profit, it’s probably worth explaining what the actual concept of effortless action (wu wei) actually means—just so you’re not throwing a millenary tradition in the same bag as social media grifters.
Daoism the tradition from which the concept of wu wei comes from, is in no way opposed to discipline or hard work. The effortlessness in effortless action lies more in the way in which you relate to your struggle than in the absence of struggle itself.
This is why I mentioned the bastardized version of Eastern philosophies, precisely to emphasize I am not dismissing the original teachings but their very convenient “adaptations” that place very little demand or responsibility on the practitioners. Thank you for the contribution!
I can’t stand hustle culture, but I believe in the struggle. The feeling of achieving something after a lot of discomfort through effort is unmatched.
But I find I need a genuine reason for the struggle to be worth it. In that way, it doesn’t feel effortful even though it is objectively — I get energy from the payoff.
Yeah, I feel like at least 90% of people misunderstood Alysa. Another amazing article from you, man. Made me feel better too, on most days I have zero cells in my body that want to go to the gym, on runs, etc, so it's a struggle, but then I think of the feeling when I'm done with everything at the end of the day. It feels like it came so easy and I think back to how fun some minutes were.. I just forget how much I was dreading it in the morning lol, almost every day without fault
I think if Based Leo Baddie is proof of anything it's that the key to consistent hard work is to find something that you find *worth* suffering for. That's what so many fail to grasp- suffering is an inevitable fact of life, so it's better to throw yourself at something that's worth suffering and dying for then doing so for a cause you'll only end up resenting. Thanks for the article.
We all have been lied about the potential of our brain, body, and soul.
You can be extremely wealthy, a self-taught polymath, a deep philosopher, a visionary leader, a great social activist, and a freakish athlete all combined. You don’t have to compromise on anything!
The system convinced, brainwashed, and indoctrinated us to stick with one expertise throughout life. As if we are tiny cogs for a giant machine.
Because, they have a certain kind of fear. If humans can explore and unleash their monstrous hidden untapped potential of their brain, body, and soul. Then all kinds of systems and institutions would be rendered useless.
You just need — brain, body, soul, and the internet.
You have some great quotes in this article. You might also like this example.
Even Mozart, who has been popularized as a born musical genius, had to work hard to develop his skills. “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me.” Mozart said to the conductor leading rehearsals for Don Giovanni, “I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.”
Great article. But since you mention the bastardizing of eastern philosophy for profit, it’s probably worth explaining what the actual concept of effortless action (wu wei) actually means—just so you’re not throwing a millenary tradition in the same bag as social media grifters.
Daoism the tradition from which the concept of wu wei comes from, is in no way opposed to discipline or hard work. The effortlessness in effortless action lies more in the way in which you relate to your struggle than in the absence of struggle itself.
This is why I mentioned the bastardized version of Eastern philosophies, precisely to emphasize I am not dismissing the original teachings but their very convenient “adaptations” that place very little demand or responsibility on the practitioners. Thank you for the contribution!
I can’t stand hustle culture, but I believe in the struggle. The feeling of achieving something after a lot of discomfort through effort is unmatched.
But I find I need a genuine reason for the struggle to be worth it. In that way, it doesn’t feel effortful even though it is objectively — I get energy from the payoff.
Without meaning, effort just feels like damage
Yeah, I feel like at least 90% of people misunderstood Alysa. Another amazing article from you, man. Made me feel better too, on most days I have zero cells in my body that want to go to the gym, on runs, etc, so it's a struggle, but then I think of the feeling when I'm done with everything at the end of the day. It feels like it came so easy and I think back to how fun some minutes were.. I just forget how much I was dreading it in the morning lol, almost every day without fault
I think if Based Leo Baddie is proof of anything it's that the key to consistent hard work is to find something that you find *worth* suffering for. That's what so many fail to grasp- suffering is an inevitable fact of life, so it's better to throw yourself at something that's worth suffering and dying for then doing so for a cause you'll only end up resenting. Thanks for the article.
We all have been lied about the potential of our brain, body, and soul.
You can be extremely wealthy, a self-taught polymath, a deep philosopher, a visionary leader, a great social activist, and a freakish athlete all combined. You don’t have to compromise on anything!
The system convinced, brainwashed, and indoctrinated us to stick with one expertise throughout life. As if we are tiny cogs for a giant machine.
Because, they have a certain kind of fear. If humans can explore and unleash their monstrous hidden untapped potential of their brain, body, and soul. Then all kinds of systems and institutions would be rendered useless.
You just need — brain, body, soul, and the internet.
Sprezzatura vs. Sforzatura. I have a feeling you'll really enjoy this essay here:
https://gnirob.com/p/from-sprezzatura-to-sforzatura
You have some great quotes in this article. You might also like this example.
Even Mozart, who has been popularized as a born musical genius, had to work hard to develop his skills. “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me.” Mozart said to the conductor leading rehearsals for Don Giovanni, “I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.”
Great reminder that the work is the only thing that matters.
Work shapes us as much as we shape it.
Thank you.