But what about all the moments when we seem to do the opposite?If we’re all so lazy, then how do you explain people accomplishing hard things like raising a child or starting a business or climbing Mount Everest?Certainly, you are capable of doing very hard things.The problem is that some days you feel like doing the hard work and some days you feel like giving in.On the tough days, it’s crucial to have as many things working in your favor as possible so that you can overcome the challenges life naturally throws your way.The less friction you face, the easier it is for your stronger self to emerge.The idea behind make it easy is not to only do easy things.The idea is to make it as easy as possible in the moment to do things that payoff in the long run.Imagine you are holding a garden hose that is bent in the middle.Some water can flow through, but not very much.If you want to increase the rate at which water passes through the hose, you have two options.The first option is to crank up the valve and force more water out.The second option is to simply remove the bend in the hose and let water flow through naturally.Trying to pump up your motivation to stick with a hard habit is like trying to force water through a bent hose.You can do it, but it requires a lot of effort and increases the tension in your life.Meanwhile, making your habits simple and easy is like removing the bend in the hose.Rather than trying to overcome the friction in your life, you reduce it.
But what about all the moments when we seem to do the opposite?
但我们那些看起来在做相反事情的时刻又怎么解释呢?
moments/ˈmoʊmənts/
n. 时刻(复数)
Ex: There are moments when you doubt yourself.
例句翻译:有些时刻你会怀疑自己。 分析:强调“某些特定时点/情境”,不是长期状态。
seem to/siːm tuː/
phr. 似乎;看起来像
Ex: He seems to understand.
例句翻译:他似乎理解了。 分析:表示表面现象,不一定等于事实。
the opposite/ði ˈɑːpəzɪt/
n. 相反;对立面
Ex: The opposite is also true.
例句翻译:相反的情况也成立。 分析:这里指“明明说人趋易”,但有人却做难事。
If we’re all so lazy, then how do you explain people accomplishing hard things like raising a child or starting a business or climbing Mount Everest?
如果我们都这么懒,那你怎么解释人们能完成很难的事情,比如养育孩子、创业,或者攀登珠穆朗玛峰?
explain/ɪkˈspleɪn/
v. 解释;说明
Ex: Can you explain your idea?
例句翻译:你能解释一下你的想法吗? 分析:作者用反问引出论证:对“懒”观点提出挑战。
accomplishing/əˈkɑːmplɪʃɪŋ/
v. 完成;达成(现在分词)
Ex: Accomplishing a goal takes time.
例句翻译:达成目标需要时间。 分析:accomplish 强调“完成一件有难度/价值的事”。
raising/ˈreɪzɪŋ/
v. 抚养;养育(现在分词)
Ex: Raising a child is challenging.
例句翻译:养育孩子很有挑战。 分析:raise a child 是固定搭配。
climbing/ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
v. 攀登(现在分词)
Ex: Climbing a mountain requires training.
例句翻译:爬山需要训练。 分析:与 Mount Everest 搭配强调极端困难。
Certainly, you are capable of doing very hard things.
当然,你也有能力去完成非常困难的事。
certainly/ˈsɜːrtnli/
adv. 当然;确定地
Ex: I will certainly try.
例句翻译:我当然会试试。 分析:语气确定,用来承认读者确实能做难事。
capable/ˈkeɪpəbl/
adj. 有能力的
Ex: She is capable of leading the team.
例句翻译:她有能力带领团队。 分析:capable of + 动名词,表示具备完成某事的能力。
hard/hɑːrd/
adj. 困难的
Ex: Hard tasks build skills.
例句翻译:困难任务锻炼能力。 分析:这里与 easy 对比,但并非否定做难事的可能。
The problem is that some days you feel like doing the hard work and some days you feel like giving in.
问题在于:有些日子你想做艰难的工作,有些日子你只想屈服、想放弃。
the problem is that/ðə ˈprɑːbləm ɪz ðæt/
phr. 问题在于……
Ex: The problem is that we started late.
例句翻译:问题在于我们开始得太晚。 分析:用于提出关键障碍或核心原因。
feel like/fiːl laɪk/
phr. 想要;有心情(做某事)
Ex: I don't feel like studying today.
例句翻译:我今天不想学习。 分析:强调动机波动:有时想做,有时不想做。
giving in/ˈɡɪvɪŋ ɪn/
phr. 屈服;让步;放弃抵抗
Ex: He gave in to temptation.
例句翻译:他向诱惑屈服了。 分析:常与 to temptation/stress 搭配,表示“扛不住了”。
On the tough days, it’s crucial to have as many things working in your favor as possible so that you can overcome the challenges life naturally throws your way.
在艰难的日子里,至关重要的是让尽可能多的因素站在你这边,这样你才能克服生活自然抛给你的挑战。
tough/tʌf/
adj. 艰难的;棘手的
Ex: It was a tough week.
例句翻译:那是艰难的一周。 分析:tough days 指状态不佳、压力大、精力低的日子。
crucial/ˈkruːʃl/
adj. 至关重要的
Ex: Consistency is crucial.
例句翻译:持续性至关重要。 分析:语气强,表示关键点。
in your favor/ɪn jʊr ˈfeɪvər/
phr. 对你有利
Ex: The odds are in your favor.
例句翻译:胜算对你有利。 分析:强调把环境/条件调整成更容易成功的样子。
overcome/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/
v. 克服
Ex: Overcome a setback.
例句翻译:克服挫折。 分析:overcome challenges 表示跨越障碍、渡过难关。
The less friction you face, the easier it is for your stronger self to emerge.
你面对的摩擦越少,你更强大的自我就越容易显现出来。
friction/ˈfrɪkʃn/
n. 摩擦;阻力(比喻)
Ex: Reduce friction to build habits.
例句翻译:减少阻力来建立习惯。 分析:本书核心隐喻:行动阻力越小,行为越容易发生。
face/feɪs/
v. 面对;遭遇
Ex: We face problems every day.
例句翻译:我们每天都会遇到问题。 分析:face friction = 遭遇阻力/麻烦。
emerge/ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
v. 显现;出现
Ex: A solution emerged.
例句翻译:一个解决方案出现了。 分析:强调从不明显到显现出来(更强自我更容易出现)。
stronger self/ˈstrɔːŋɡər self/
n. 更强的自我(更有毅力的那一面)
Ex: Your stronger self shows up when it's easy to act.