"Try"

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Sunday, July 17. 2016

"Try" is one of those tricky words, isn't it? "Just try harder." "Try to study harder and you'll get it." Or my favorite: "Try to relax." What do those sorts of things mean?

My most meaningful encounters with "try" are with physical exertion, mainly exercise. When you hit the wall with an exercise the overwhelming inclination is to stop. However, when somebody says "Give me two more" or "Drive it through" you engage your inner "try." Then mind, nerves, and muscle fully engage together to do something you can't do.

I did check out the etymology, for what it's worth.

Posted by Bird Dog in Psychology, and Dr. Bliss, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 11:00 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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Try not to try!

Substitute "Do" for "Try to".

Taoism - wu wei; effortless action; pure spontaneity. No trying.

#1 peacelovewoodstock on 2016-07-17 11:58 (Reply)

"There is no 'try' - there is 'do' or 'not do" Yoda

My AA friends are also fond of the expression 'trying is lying'

But YMMV and there are numerous situations where 'try' isn't so problematic..

#2 Anteros on 2016-07-17 12:50 (Reply)

"If you can force your heart and mind and sinew
To serve their turn long after they are gone,
And so, hold on when there is nothing in you,
Except the will which says to them 'hold on,'..."

Kipling had it right (although my memory might have a word or two wrong). There is something in us that can go beyond any quantifiable physical limit, at least for brief periods.

#3 RALPH KINNEY BENNETT on 2016-07-17 15:10 (Reply)

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Sunday, July 17. 2016

"Try"