The other day I saw this thing which seemed to be a Chinese saying of sorts about stubborn people and the futility of attempting to convince someone who's mind is made up
I tell you but you don't listen
You listen but you don't understand
You understand but you don't act
You act but you do it wrong
You don't wrong but you won't admit it
You admit it but you won't change
You change, but you're not convinced
So tell me what I'm supposed to do
By the end of it, we realise the futility of our actions. Each step is met by resistance and even outright resistance to change till we are out of options. Lost and unsure. Despite each step having moved the needle or the line just a little bit further off, it is somehow never enough. There is still something left to do to tip it off the edge.
This is ironically representative of a common battle we have with ourselves. We stumble upon a new concept or piece of information that we believe is the secret to getting all of our ducks in order. We try everything to embed this nugget of wisdom into our daily life. We schedule it. Plan for it. Read about it. Write it. And yet somehow, like a new year's resolution, it never seems to quite resolve.
So tell me, what are we supposed to do.