Certain ways that “try harder” can be a bad strategy

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get that bread

“Try harder,” you tell yourself, assuming that this directive will be taken seriously by the person you are five minutes from now. However, it’s not—that future person has no interest in the present you, who is, to them, a barely recognizable figure from a distant past. “Try harder,” you tell yourself, assuming that the process that feels effortful is the one that creates results. However, it’s not, in this case—the feeling of effort is being created by superfluous action. You are furrowing your brow more vigorously in order to think better thoughts. “Try harder,” you tell yourself, as a…

Certain ways that “try harder” can be a bad strategy

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