The top wisdom in life: degrade yourself
As we strive to pursue various goals and achievements in life, we often overexpend our energy, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. In nature, there is an animal that has unique adaptability to survive in the harsh desert environment, and that is the desert camel. This is a philosophical creature.
As we all know, camels can travel hundreds of kilometers under conditions of extreme lack of water and food. However, camels do not adapt to the environment through increased physiological functions of water consumption, but through their unique water storage capacity and energy-saving walking method. Their body structure is simplified to reduce water loss; for example, their nasal cavities are specially designed to recycle exhaled water vapor. This survival strategy — reducing unnecessary consumption and focusing on the basic needs to sustain life , allows them to survive in harsh environments.
Life also requires wise allocation of our limited resources. Each of us has limited time and energy. Only by letting go of the irrelevant things and focusing on the really important things can we live more efficiently and meaningfully. Learning to degrade yourself in life and allocate resources reasonably is the key to achieving maturity and wisdom.
1 Reduce information consumption and improve mental clarity.
We live in an era of information explosion, and mobile phones and the Internet have become part of our daily lives. Every day, we are bombarded with countless news, social media updates, emails, and advertisements. Especially with the rapid development of short video platforms such as Douyin, “short, flat and fast” content formats have become the focus of public attention. At the same time, in-depth reading has gradually been marginalized and seems to have become an inaccessible thing. The flood of information is like an invisible storm, not only occupying our time, but also impacting our minds.
Studies have shown that excessive information consumption can lead to distraction, memory loss, and even anxiety and depression. In this era of information-rich information, degenerate information consumption has become a necessary choice to improve mental clarity. We need to learn to distinguish among massive amounts of information and focus on information that is truly valuable to us.
Just imagine how peaceful and relaxed your brain will be when you no longer worry about scrolling through all social media updates and are no longer bothered by endless news updates. In this way, you can focus more on things that are really important to you, such as communicating with family and friends, cultivating personal interests, or improving professional skills.
The world-famous psychologist Carl Newport mentioned in his book: “Deep work” is professional activities performed in a state without interference, thereby pushing an individual’s cognitive ability to the limit. Only by reducing the interference of information can we carry out deep work in the true sense.
Reduced information consumption does not require us to completely stay away from the digital world, but requires us to become the masters of information instead of passive receivers. We can do regular “digital detoxes,” for example, by setting a daily phone-free period or by not checking email and social media for a specific period of time. Through such exercises, we can gradually develop the ability to selectively accept information, thereby improving the quality of life and efficiency of work.
In the process, we will find that our thinking is clearer, our memory is stronger, and our lives are more orderly and peaceful. Only in a clear state of mind can we better understand the world and ourselves.
2 Degrade expectations and improve life satisfaction
We often set various expectations for ourselves, whether it is professional achievements, relationships or daily life. Although these expectations can drive us forward, high or unrealistic expectations often become a burden on the soul, leading to anxiety and disappointment.
Reducing expectations does not mean giving up pursuit and effort, but finding a balance between reality and ideals. When our expectations are too high, beyond our own or others’ actual capabilities, they can become obstacles to our happiness and progress. By adjusting our expectations to match reality, we can reduce our inner struggles and dissatisfactions and more appreciate and enjoy the good things we already have in life.
This is a profound process of self-awareness. It requires us to be honest about our own abilities and limitations, while also accepting the imperfections of others. When we let go of those unrealistic expectations, we will find that life becomes easier and more comfortable. Instead of beating ourselves up for the high standards we fall short of, we start appreciating and appreciating the achievements and goodness of the present.
For example, in the workplace, we may expect to be promoted quickly, but career development often requires the accumulation of time and opportunities. In relationships, we may expect our partners or friends to be completely understanding and supportive, but everyone has their own thoughts and limitations. By regressing these expectations, we can reduce disappointment and increase understanding and tolerance of others.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: “He who is content is always happy.” Meaning life becomes easier when our expectations align with our true desires. Regressive expectations are not negative withdrawal, but a positive adjustment of life attitude. It helps us better enjoy the present moment and cherish the people in front of us, thus improving life satisfaction and happiness.
In the process, we can focus more on personal growth and development rather than being pulled away by external expectations. This kind of lifestyle allows us to experience every moment of life more deeply and enjoy every gift life brings.
3 Degrade work input and improve life balance
In modern society, work is often regarded as an important criterion for measuring personal value and success. Many people devote most of their time and energy to work for the sake of career success. This excessive work enthusiasm may sometimes lead to an unbalanced life and neglect of family, health and personal growth.
Degrading work engagement does not mean being irresponsible or slacking off at work, but rather emphasizing finding a healthy balance between work and life. Life is not just work, but also has diverse components such as family, friendships, hobbies, etc. When we are too immersed in work, we may miss valuable time with family, neglect our physical health, or cultivate our personal interests.
The world-famous entrepreneur Jeff Bezos proposed the concept of “work-life harmony”. He believes that work and life should not be in a competitive relationship, but should promote and integrate each other. When we achieve success at work, it can lead to happiness in life; similarly, a happy family life and a rich personal life can also bring positive energy to work.
Reducing work engagement means learning to set reasonable boundaries at work. For example, plan your working hours and rest time reasonably, try not to take work home with you after get off work, and give yourself and your family more time and attention. At the same time, you can also find ways to improve efficiency at work to avoid ineffective work and ensure high quality and efficiency in working hours.
From this, we may find new energy in other aspects of our lives. For example, spending more time interacting with family members will increase family happiness; cultivating personal interests will make life more colorful; paying attention to physical health will bring a better life experience.
Degrading work input is actually a wise choice, which allows us to develop ourselves more comprehensively and experience every aspect of life more deeply. Through this balance, we can not only realize our own value at work, but also find true happiness and satisfaction in life.
In fact, degeneration also represents a unique kind of evolution to some extent.