Two tectonic plates can grind against one another for millions of years, the tension slowly building all the while.Then, one day, they rub each other once again, in the same fashion they have for ages, but this time the tension is too great.An earthquake erupts. Change can take years—before it happens all at once.Mastery requires patience.The San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, have a quote from social reformer Jacob Riis hanging in their locker room: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before.”
All big things come from small beginnings.The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger.Roots entrench themselves and branches grow.The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us.And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.
But what determines whether we stick with a habit long enough to survive the Plateau of Latent Potential and break through to the other side?What is it that causes some people to slide into unwanted habits and enables others to enjoy the compounding effects of good ones?
Two tectonic plates can grind against one another for millions of years, the tension slowly building all the while.
两个地壳板块可能会相互摩擦数百万年，紧张局势逐渐积累。
Tectonic plates[tɛkˈtɒnɪk pleɪts]
地壳板块
Ex: The movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
例句翻译：地壳板块的运动引发地震和火山爆发。
Grind against one another[ɡraɪnd əˈɡeɪnst wʌn əˈnʌðər]
彼此摩擦
Ex: The rocks in the riverbed grind against each other as the water flows.
例句翻译：河床中的岩石在水流冲刷下相互摩擦。
Tension slowly building all the while[ˈtɛnʃən ˈsləʊli ˈbɪldɪŋ ɔːl ðə waɪl]
紧张局势逐渐积累
Ex: The tension between the two countries has been building for years.
例句翻译：这两个国家之间的紧张局势已经积累了多年。
Then, one day, they rub each other once again, in the same fashion they have for ages, but this time the tension is too great.
然后，有一天，它们再次相互摩擦，以与过去相同的方式，但这次紧张局势过于剧烈。
Rub each other[rʌb iːʧ ˈʌðər]
相互摩擦
Ex: The friction caused the two pieces of metal to rub each other and create sparks.
例句翻译：摩擦导致两块金属相互摩擦并产生火花。
In the same fashion[ɪn ðə seɪm ˈfæʃən]
以相同的方式
Ex: The two companies operate in the same fashion, offering similar products.
例句翻译：这两家公司以相同的方式运营，提供类似的产品。
Tension is too great[ˈtɛnʃən ɪz tuː ɡreɪt]
紧张局势过于剧烈
Ex: The tension in the room was too great for anyone to speak.
例句翻译：房间里的紧张气氛让任何人都不敢说话。
An earthquake erupts. Change can take years—before it happens all at once.
地震爆发。变化可能需要数年时间——然后一切会突然发生。
Earthquake erupts[ˈɜːθkweɪk ɪˈrʌpts]
地震爆发
Ex: The earthquake erupted suddenly, causing widespread damage.
例句翻译：地震突然爆发，造成了广泛的破坏。
Change can take years[ʧeɪndʒ kæn teɪk jɪərz]
变化可能需要数年时间
Ex: Real change takes years, but the results are worth the wait.
例句翻译：真正的变化需要多年，但结果是值得等待的。
Mastery requires patience.
掌握需要耐心。
Mastery[ˈmæstəri]
精通，掌握
Ex: It takes years of practice to achieve mastery in any field.
例句翻译：在任何领域，精通都需要多年的练习。
Requires patience[rɪˈkwaɪərz ˈpeɪʃəns]
需要耐心
Ex: Learning a new language requires patience and consistent practice.
例句翻译：学习一门新语言需要耐心和持续的练习。
The San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, have a quote from social reformer Jacob Riis hanging in their locker room: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before.”