Today I listened to a great podcast episode from Hidden Brain. It talks about the pitfalls of “trying too hard”.
We’re raised and conditioned to try hard. To sit down and focus. To analytically work our way through a problem. Sometimes, however, this comes at the detriment of spontaneity, creativity, and authenticity.
A great example they shared was tennis, and how people—hobbyists, amateurs, and professionals alike—play their best when they’re relaxed and not obsessing over technique. When a tennis pro is relaxed, they hit with power, confidence, and finesse. But when they’re trying too hard, mistakes creep in.
Another few good examples were from the arts: musicians and improv thespians, specifically. They feel the music and what the other actors are doing, and they respond calmly and naturally. They let the instruments and the story take them on a journey.
The main lesson I took away is that good work is rarely done when we’re tense, frustrated, or trying too hard. Instead, we need to relax and let the work out.