Addition by Subtraction
Are you familiar with the concept of inversion? I find it to be an effective, albeit counterintuitive way to overcome obstacles. “Inversion” has many different definitions, but in this sense, it’s to do the reverse of something. For example, if you want to become successful, instead of asking what successful people do, ask what unsuccessful people do. By doing less of the unsuccessful behaviors you’ll automatically be doing more of the successful behaviors. That’s inversion.
Another example; to improve your health and fitness, you could start by asking what would hinder your health and fitness: not enough sleep, high levels of stress, not exercising, consuming too many calories, etc. Whatever you identify, simply stop doing those things in order to improve.
One area in which inversion is particularly powerful is when you want to improve something, but have absolutely no idea where to begin. Let’s say your goal is to become an incredible leader, but you’ve never led a team before and you're terrified—inversion will send you in the right direction. Even if you don’t know how to lead, you almost certainly know how not to lead. Start there.
Think about the power this could have on relationships, money habits, improving focus, staying organized, building skills, time management, improving businesses—anything! No matter the topic, by identifying what not to do, you are simultaneously identifying what to do. It’s simple. And it’s beautiful.
“The soul does not grow by addition but by subtraction.”
-Meister Eckhart
