I created a new thinking tool based on recent articles. I named it the 1-2-3 principle. This is a way to get a reasonable answer for the abstract matter with no certain answer. Today, I will introduce it.
How to have an answer to an abstract matter
Sometimes, we want to have an answer to an abstract matter. Typical examples are happiness, improving life, how to live, the meaning of individuality, health, making money, and acquiring skills. An abstract problem means there is no certain answer.
That is why there is so much confusing information that avoids specific answers, such as ‘100 tips for happiness.’ The more abstract the issue becomes, the less certain the solution is. They can only provide trivial advice.
That often confuses us because we can use those tips only in limited situations. Even if we remember 100 tips, we don’t know which one is effective in our current problem. Moreover, there are times that none of them are effective.
That makes us search for other hints. Then, we receive more insignificant advice. It only confuses us further. A negative cycle begins. It often causes stagnation, a deadlock, or a double bind. That makes us unable to do anything but maintain the current situation with no hope. We struggle in the darkness.
An approach that changes fundamentally
That process shows us that the fundamental approach is wrong. We have to change fundamentally.
However, we don’t know how to solve this predicament.
To solve this problem, I suggest a new concept. I named it the 1-2-3 principle. This is a principle of getting a reasonable answer for the abstract matter. It might help you break through your stagnation.
What is the 1-2-3 principle?
The 1-2-3 principle is an approach to get a reasonable answer for abstract matters. Although it requires logical sense, it answers questions with no right answer or too many options. It is for logical people.
In this approach, we derive an answer from our essential of wants instead of searching trivial advice.
It consists of 3 steps, as its name suggests. They are as follows:
- (Step 1) Decide on one place that satisfies essential wants. That is our basis. We narrow down our wants as much as possible.
- (Step 2) Decide on two contradictory directions and move the base to maintain balance. We cannot achieve perfection right away in step 1, so we modify our balances based on our moods.
- (Step 3) Divide the interference-capable area into three parts and begin creating with them. We start to create, interfere with the environment, and harvest new abundance.
Let me explain each step with examples below.
(Step 1) Decide on one place
Let’s suppose we want to migrate to our ideal place. The goal is to find a good place and live there happily with hope and steady progression without stagnation.
The first step is to decide on one place. We roughly determine a single base that satisfies our wants, as shown in the next figure:
This is the most reliable place where a minimum quality is guaranteed. If we get confused, we can return here at any time. This safety area allows us to explore the outside world peacefully.
In other words, this is the home where the most fundamental principles are.
Narrowing down what we need
To identify this place, we narrow down our wants or conditions as much as possible. In other words, choose the elements necessary to achieve our happiness, the goal, or solving the problem as few as possible.
For example, if we want to migrate to the countryside, narrow down what we need. There are many factors that affect our comfortable lives, such as grocery stores, transportation, the amount of nature, public security, available farm fields, or the cost of living.
If we want to master cooking skills to reduce food costs, we try to simplify what we need. We will find many items, such as vegetables, meat, spices, herbs, pans, pots, or other cooking utensils.
If we try to learn a second language, vocabulary, grammar, phrases, or pronunciation may be required.
Narrowing down as much as possible gives us the simplest basis we can return to at any time.
Avoid imagining an ideal state here
In this step, we limit the factors. Although this is one step toward realizing our ideals, don’t imagine an ideal state here. It makes us add unnecessary things endlessly.
For example, we might want to add luxury items or decorations to our homes. We might want to learn extra skills or utensils that look beautiful to cook for ourselves.
However, such extravagant solutions we can get at the beginning stage don’t exist in the world, or they cost billions of dollars. That is why imagining an ideal state often prevents steady progress.
Creating the basis
Instead, ask yourself like this: “It is easy to realize. All I need is only them.”
“My happiness is easy to realize. All I need is only this, this, this, and this!”
“Cooking for myself is easy! All I need is to cut them, add enough heat, and salt and pepper them!”
“Using the second language is easy. All I need is a few fundamental words and grammar. Let’s try going shopping at a donut shop!”
That allows us to find and create a basis. This is the most reliable logic where a minimum quality is guaranteed. A broader, historical perspective will help us eliminate unimportant elements, like money, as I explained in the previous article (this article).
Even though it might not be so tasty, we can satisfy our fundamental wants for happiness or stomachs.
Narrowing down our essential wants and identifying this basis is the first step.
(Step 2) Decide on two contradictory directions
The second step is to decide on two contradictory directions and move the base to maintain balance. We cannot achieve perfection immediately in step 1, so we need to modify.
This is as shown in the next figure:
For example, suppose we want to migrate to the countryside and have found a good place. However, we might find that there are always other problems. Water prices might be high. It might be windy, and sand might get into the house.
If we cooked for ourselves, we might find something is missing in the soup.
Even if we achieved shopping using the second language, we might feel inconvenienced ordering the number of items.
Two contradictory directions
They cause us conflicts, and we have to balance.
Those conflicts have two contradictory aspects. For example, one might have the desire to ignore the problem. We already achieved basic sufficiency in step 1. We want to rest and enjoy the current satisfaction. The other might be the desire to improve it even if it requires analysis and discovery.
Both are correct. We proceed while balancing them.
If we cook for ourselves, we might have a conflict between costs and quality. If we learn a second language, we might struggle between the wish to study and practice.
We balance them based on our moods. We know that there is no need to hurry. Having conflict is not a bad thing. We can progress gradually while balancing them.
Those imbalances are not critical. This is because we secured essential factors in step 1. Of course, we could get the fundamentals wrong. In such a case, we return to step 1. We always need to be prepared for failure.
If we have chosen the appropriate fundamentals, this step improves our progression steadily. Even if we are confused, we can return to the basis. We can proceed at our pace.
(Step 3) Divide the interference-capable area into three parts
The final, third step is to divide the interference-capable area into three parts and begin creating with them. Until now, we have only followed the environment. However, from this step, we actively start to create, interfere with the environment, and harvest new abundance.
This process is as shown in the next figure:
For example, after we migrate to the countryside and balance our states, we start to create productions. To use our resources efficiently, we divide the usable areas into three parts.
It might be the house, the garden, and the market. We might buy tools to improve our home or garden. At the same time, we might sell our production to the market. We might eat the vegetables we grow at our house. We create while interfering with those three segments.
Creating based on three segments
If we cook for ourselves, the three areas might be nutrients, cost, and time. It could be vegetables, meats, and grains, or cooking utensils, ingredients, and condiments.
We can change utensils based on ingredients or condiments and vice versa. We create new combinations and make the dishes better. This is a creative process.
If we learn a second language, the three segments might be speaking, reading, and hearing. Hearing might improve our vocabulary. Reading experience might work for speaking. Speaking with others might give us a new opportunity to hear.
With creativity, we build new logic and draw out synergies. Until now, we have learned basic logic and balanced it. This step is the time when our unique talents flourish.
Dividing three elements allows us to create strategy and keep improving. Avoid simplifying it into only two because it causes a deadlock or a double bind, as I explained in an earlier article (this article).
Conclusion
That is the 1-2-3 principle. It is an approach to get a reasonable answer for abstract matters.
Although it requires logical sense, it answers questions with no right answer or too many options.
It might help you break through your stagnation.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
