所谓的 “化繁为简”,不过是要做到这一点

The Key Mental Habit of Simplicity

通往「简单思维习惯」的关键


壹心理翻译社 ◎ 荣誉出品
来源 | Zen Habits
翻译 | constellationivy
校编 | 胡孟洁
注:为方便具有英文阅读习惯和需求的读者,我们在译文发表的同时,附上了英文原文。在部分译文的处理上,我们进行了二次编辑,以求更接地气、更容易理解的表达,因此并非所有译文都和英文原文100%对应。原文链接可在文末找到,提醒有需要的读者留意。

I’ve written a lot about simplifying your life, from the philosophy behind it to the tactical steps to getting to simplicity.


关于简生活我已写了很多,不论是它背后的,还是实现它的策略步骤。


But the true key isn’t in the steps, it’s in our mental habits.


至关重要的并不在于具体步骤,而在于我们的思维习惯。 


For example, I could get rid of my physical clutter and simplify my day so that I have more space in my life… but until I address the mental habits that got me to a cluttered life, it will just keep coming back.

以我为例,我可以处理杂物也可以简化日常,以给予生活更多自由空间…… 但除非我处理好了那些导致生活杂乱不堪的思维习惯,乱糟糟的生活总会去而复返。  

So here’s what I’ve learned is the key mental habit of simplicity: noticing the mind’s tendency to want more, and don’t believe it.

所以我发现通往简单的关键思维习惯其实是:当你察觉自己大脑欲求过多的时候,选择性忽视掉这些欲求。

The mind always wants more. And at the same time, it wants less — there’s a polarity in the mind that craves simplicity and craves more.


你的思想中有个对立的存在,一方面想要一切从简,另一方面又希望得到更多。


Why does the mind want both? The mind wants more because it thinks that more will make it happy, it sees possibility in acquiring more, and it thinks that acquiring things will help relieve the uncertainty it feels.


“简单” 和 “更多”,为什么大脑都想要呢?大脑渴望得到更多是因为它认为这样会带来快乐,带来更多可能性,也会减轻不确定感。  


The mind wants less when it is feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and just wants relief from that difficult feeling. It thinks that if it gets rid of stuff, there will be peace.

大脑渴望减负是因为它渴望逃离困难,逃离压力与过载的感受,它认为甩脱不必要的东西会带来平静。

Both are wrong, but they come from a good-hearted place.

两种想法都是错的,但都源自一个好的出发点。

The Desire for More & Less are Both Wrong

想要更多?想要减负?

这两种渴望都站不住脚  


The desire for more is wrong because, as we’ve all seen, you can get a bump of joy when you receive your new package in the mail… but it doesn’t even last a day, usually. 


渴望更多的想法是错的,大家都知道得到新的东西确实可以带来许多快乐,但买买买打的鸡血通常连一天都撑不过去。

Certainly not a few days. That dopamine hit of acquiring more is very temporary… and it doesn’t make us happier over the long term. It doesn’t actually give us what we’re hoping for in life, nor does it relieve any uncertainty.


更不用说好几天了。得到更多所刺激出来的多巴胺也只不过是暂时的现象…… 而这少量的多巴胺也并不会给予我们长期的快乐。它并不能真正满足我们对人生的渴望, 也不能将我们从不确定中拉出来

Think about it / 想象一下:

If you are worried about an upcoming trip, you’ll research the destination, buy some new clothes or equipment to help you feel more prepared, make plans and have everything set in place. The uncertainty doesn’t go away, you’ve just kept yourself busy trying to get control as a way of coping with the stress of uncertainty.

假如你正在担心即将启程的旅行,你会去搜索目的地,买一些新衣服或装备,让你感觉自己是有计划的,并且一切都是准备就绪的。不确定感并不会消失,你只是通过让自己忙碌获得控制感,以此来减轻不确定感导致的压力。

You got into a new hobby, excited by the awesome possibilities of it. Of course you had to buy more things to enable the hobby, but that’s OK, because it’s going to give you this amazing new life, right? Actually, your life might change, but it won’t ever be what you were fantasizing about. Your mind just tricks you.

你有个新爱好,你在那脑补未来,兴奋不已。为了这个爱好理所当然你得多买点儿东西。没毛病,毕竟人生即将变得不同不是吗?实际上,人生可能会改变,但它绝不会和你的脑补一个样儿你的惯性思维又给你设了个套儿。

You got that beautiful new (outfit, bag, gadget, tool, whatever) and you think, “Oh, isn’t life grand?” But then your life returns to normal, and it’s not any better, except now you’re a little poorer and you have a cool new thing in it to clutter up your space.

假如你获得了一个全新的东西(可以是新装备,新包,新的小玩意,新的工具等),正在感叹“噢~人生真美好~”然而之后生活又会变回原样,除了穷了点儿,多了个炫酷的新玩意儿挤占空间外,一点儿也没有变好。

So when the mind wants more, it is simply trying to find happiness or relief from stress. Neither actually results from having more, but that doesn’t stop the mind from trying.


因此,渴望得到更多时,大脑只是想要快乐或摆脱压力。即使两者都无法靠获得更多来达成,也阻止不了大脑“屡败屡战”。


On the other hand, the mind’s desire for less is just a desire for peace. And that’s not a bad thing. You get some peace, I think, when you reduce your possessions or commitments. 


与此同时,渴望减负时,大脑只是想要平静而已。不是个糟糕的想法。我认为减少不必要之物或者对某些事的过多卷入确实会带来平静。


Creating space is nice. But in the end, your mind still will find something to complain about — if it’s not having too many things, or too much to do, it will be boredom or tiredness or irritating people who have too much clutter in their lives.


腾出空是件好事儿。不过,你的大脑最终还是会找到可以抱怨的事情,不是抱怨东西太乱事儿太多,就是抱怨无聊劳累别人烦。


The key is to change the mental habits.


关键是要改变思维习惯。 



Changing the Mental Habits

改变思维习惯


Changing mental habits is pretty tough. You have to be hyper aware of your thoughts in order to change them.


改变思维习惯很难。为了能够改变它,你必须高度觉察自己的想法。 

Still, none of us ever let a tough challenge stop us from taking action, right?


不过,从没有什么艰难险阻可以拦得住我们前进的步伐,不是吗?


The process is simple / 步骤很简单:  

  • develop awareness of your mental habits over time

    逐渐觉察你的思维习惯 

  • see what their harmful effects might be

    留心它们可能有什么破坏性效果

  • stop believing the thoughts

    停止相信这些思维

  • make a loving effort to change them

    充满爱意地努力改变

  • and don’t expect perfection

    不要期待完美

So with the mental habit of wanting more, you might just notice when you’re online and researching something new to buy, or on Amazon or another shopping site ready to hit the “order” button. This is a good signal that your mind is wanting more in order to become happier and/or relieve uncertainty.


在渴望得到更多的思维习惯之下,觉察可能只有在上网淘新货或在按下 购买” 键时才会被触发。这种觉察是明显的信号,表明你的大脑想要通过得到更多来获得快乐亦或摆脱不确定。  



When you notice this, ask yourself:

当你发现了这些迹象,一定要问问自己:

  • What do I believe I’ll get if I buy this? More happiness? Less uncertainty?

    如果真的购买了,我认为我会得到什么?更多快乐?更少不确定?

  • Is that belief true?

    这个思维靠谱吗?

  • What effect does it have on me? Is it helpful to believe this, or harmful?

    这个思维对我有什么影响?相信它有益还是有害

  • What would I be like if I didn’t believe it?

    如果不相信它,我是什么样子?

So if I’m trying to buy some new travel gear, I might notice that I believe it will give me less uncertainty to get this gear. When I ask if it’s true, I will answer, “No, I know from experience that it isn’t true. I’ll still feel uncertainty.”


以,假如我正在购买新的旅行装备,我可能会觉察自己的思维习惯:得到这件装备会减轻我的不确定感。如果我三思它是否成立,我会回答:“不成立,经验告诉我事实并非如此,不确定感依然会存在。”


I’ll also notice that this belief is harmful, because it’s filling my life with more stuff and emptying my bank account, and it’s certainly not helpful.


同样,我会觉察出这种信念是有害的,因为它正用更多的物质填充我的生活,清空我的银行账户,而不见任何有益之处。

What would I be like if I didn’t believe it? I would be less intent on acquiring, more able to open up to my uncertainty and find peace by not needing to relieve it.


如果不困于得到更多的执念,我会是什么样?或许我可以放下得到更多的执着,拥抱自身的不确定,因不需要逃离不确定而获得平静。


So I try to change it by saying to myself:


于是,为了让改变发生,我试着告诉自己: 

  • You don’t need this new gear

    不需要这套新装备

  • You know it won’t relieve your uncertainty

    你知道它不会减轻你的不确定

  • Opening to your uncertainty with a loving heart is the way to go

    唯一可行是带着爱意拥抱你的不确定

Then I try to fully feel the uncertainty, loving it as much as I love chocolate or laughter, and feel the awesome beauty of life in the midst of the uncertainty.


然后,我试着去全然地感受不确定,爱之如爱巧克力或欢笑,深入其中感受生命惊人的美好。

This is how we can change our mental habits. With awareness, with honesty, with an open heart, and with appreciation for the immense joy of life in the midst of chaos.


这就是我们何以改变思维习惯。以觉察,以诚实,以开放的心,以对无垠的生之喜悦的感激与赞赏,处身喧嚣。



英文原作:The Key Mental Habit of Simplicity (Zen Habits)
© 本译文由壹心理翻译社译员与壹心理联合原创首发,供交流学习之用,文中内容不代表壹心理或译者立场。转载前需获得我方授权,请联系邮箱:derek@xinli001.com

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