Why is it that often times when we try so hard we fail but when we don't rea

Question:I don't know if you heard of this zen parable?

It goes like this.

A student heard of this wise martial arts trainer whose fighting skills were so renowned that many came from far to train with him. So the student took it upon himself to see the master and ask to learn his skills.

So then the student asks the master "I want you learn your martial art skills, I will work hard every day and train very hard, how long would it take me?"

The master replied "10 years"

"What? 10 years?!! I will work every hour of the day and night and put in extra time to shorten it.....how long will it take me?" gasped the student.

The master then paused and then replied "20 years".

Well following the story, what do you think has happened? The student was going to work so hard, but the master keeps increasing the years? It seems the thing that the student did not notice was that the harder one tries to concentrate on the goal, the harder the overall task becomes.

If we concentrate on completing the minor tasks and just work at doing things rather than the end goal, then things would be easier to achieve.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I don't know if you heard of this zen parable?

It goes like this.

A student heard of this wise martial arts trainer whose fighting skills were so renowned that many came from far to train with him. So the student took it upon himself to see the master and ask to learn his skills.

So then the student asks the master "I want you learn your martial art skills, I will work hard every day and train very hard, how long would it take me?"

The master replied "10 years"

"What? 10 years?!! I will work every hour of the day and night and put in extra time to shorten it.....how long will it take me?" gasped the student.

The master then paused and then replied "20 years".

Well following the story, what do you think has happened? The student was going to work so hard, but the master keeps increasing the years? It seems the thing that the student did not notice was that the harder one tries to concentrate on the goal, the harder the overall task becomes.

If we concentrate on completing the minor tasks and just work at doing things rather than the end goal, then things would be easier to achieve.

Excellent question, but i have no idea. I have noticed that too, and it's the story of my life. It's like zen, isn't it?

Probably because we put too much stock in succeeding and when we relax and don't take it as seriously we are able to see the solutions that have been in front of us all along.

I think it has to do with being afraid of failure. When we try really hard, we tend to over do it incorrectly. An example is when I study too hard for a test. I seem to get b's or c's, but when I just study averagely I get a's. Murphy's law I guess.

light matters must be treated seriously
serious matters should be treated lightly

Perhaps you are talking about memory? It's very common to try to remember something
we need for the moment and there is nothing we can do to bring it to mind. We quit trying and some time later when we no longer need it, it pops up just like that. It happens even too often and it's no symptom of Alzheimer's disease. It's a human phenomenon.

Because trying hard to achieve something doesn't necessarily mean that we'll have the opportunity to achieve it. Sometimes, you can try as hard as possible but just never be afforded the position to reach your goal. Sometimes opportunities fall in your lap simply by being in right place at the right time or knowing the right people.

cause life is teaching you that the hard way is not always the only way and u need to relax sometimes...

sorry mike i dont know. D:
+2 points. :DD