I often heard as a youngster that one should try hard, make a serious effort. I suspect that making an effort can be counterproductive. There are many things that take care of themselves pretty well and bringing them to consciousness, being deliberate about them may not help. If a physically competent 25 yr old zips down a set of steps, his feet and the steps may interact quite smoothly. If he tries to think carefully about each step, he may fail to glide down them so quickly and smoothly.
Sometimes, the horse manure hypothesis is trotted out to show the power of inventions and changes in the direction of human life. The idea is that calculations of the amount of horse manure based on New York City production in say, 1890, would make an estimate that the population of NYC in 2015 would be drowning in manure, but only without the information that cars would come along and change things very dramatically.
For sure, new ideas and new practices can come from left field and surprise us. But lately, I have come across some instances where simple greater effort and greater carefulness have shown their power. Last January, we learned that Cambria, California was told it would be totally dry and out of water by such and such a date. But, greater awareness of the problem and greater effort to conserve extended that date several times. I think we have so much on our minds these days that we can't estimate what would happen if we really concentrated on something.
When I first began teaching in college, nearly 5 decades ago, I read a government pamphlet about ways to improve education. One chapter told the story of a county agricultural agent who told a farmer he could show the man better ways to farm. "Hell, son, I don't farm half as well as I know how now." I have often wondered why he didn't farm his best ways. I guess they were more trouble or more costly or took more time or something. I imagine something similar emerges in war or natural disaster. When people really focus and put their minds and their energies on a problem, you might get twice the power, twice the result of everyday practice.
New techniques, new understandings, greater consciousness may all appear when we get motivated. I try to stay aware of the idea that we can surge, we can go wild, but it is a big mistake to expect outstanding performance all the time. I read recently that many owners of the finest racing horses run them too much and rest them too little. To paraphrase John Milton, "those also serve who are resting".
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