EP 62 - The Law of Reverse Effort

The Law of Reverse Effort is a concept from Emile Coué. It means that sometimes when we try really hard to do something, it backfires and we don’t succeed...

TRANSCRIPT

Law of Reverse Effort

The Law of Reverse Effort is a concept from Emile Coué. It means that sometimes when we try really hard to do something, it backfires and we don’t succeed.

Imagine being told not to think about a pink elephant. The harder you try not to, the more you end up thinking about it.

The same thing happens in sports. If a player thinks too much about not missing a goal, they might end up missing it.

This happens because our brain gets stuck on that thought. It’s like when you’re told not to touch something; suddenly, you really want to touch it.

This law tells us that sometimes it’s better to relax and not overthink things. Pushing ourselves too hard can be the problem. It’s not about giving up or being lazy. It’s about finding a balance.

When we’re calm and trust ourselves, we often do better. So, in some cases, the trick to success might be to stop trying so hard to control everything and just let things flow naturally.