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Weekend Topic | Slow and steady wins the race—Never fear prematurely.
1. Original Text
Things will work out if you take your time—never fear prematurely.
2. Translation
When faced with a situation, don't be impatient or flustered, and certainly don't start fearing it in advance. Dealing with it calmly often leads to finding a perfect solution.
3. Source
The idiom “Shi huan ze yuan” originates from Yu Wanchun’s “Dang Kou Zhi” from the Qing Dynasty: “It seems that in this matter, if you take your time, things will work out smoothly; haste makes waste.”
4. Interpretation
Things will work out if you take your time—emphasis is on “taking your time,” with “smoothness” being the goal.
“Taking things slowly” isn’t procrastination—it’s proactively creating a buffer zone for yourself when the storm is approaching.
The First Level of “Slowness”
Strategic pauses—slowing down for the sake of “reason.”
This isn't stagnation—it's a shift of action from the “hands” to the “brain.”
When information is incomplete and the situation is unclear,
Hasty action is like a blind man feeling an elephant.
The “slowness” at this moment is for:
1. Gather information: Bring more facts to light.
2. Analytical Judgment: Clarify the issues, distinguish between truth and falsehood, and weigh the pros and cons.
3. Develop the plan: Simulate and run through scenarios in advance to identify the optimal approach.
The second level of “slowness”
Emotional cooling—slowing down for “qi”
When people are experiencing intense emotions such as anger, fear, or ecstasy, their judgment significantly deteriorates. The “slowing down” at such moments is a process of cooling down the emotions—just like covering boiling water to prevent it from splashing.
The “slowness” at this moment is for:
1. Regain composure: Let reason take the lead once again.
2. Empathetic thinking: Shift perspectives and consider issues from multiple angles.
3. Avoid rupture: In interpersonal relationships, leave room for maneuvering.
The Third Realm of “Huan”
Strategic waiting—slowing down for the sake of “momentum.”
This is the highest level of “tai,” closely akin to the Daoist principle of “going with the flow” and the military strategy of “waiting for the right moment to act.” It acknowledges that the development of things follows objective laws and inherent rhythms, and cannot be forcibly driven solely by subjective will.
The “slowness” at this moment is for:
1. Build up strength: Prepare secretly and wait for your own capabilities to grow stronger.
2. Wait for the right moment: Wait for the optimal timing.
3. Leverage to counterforce: Utilize the inherent contradictions and development trends of a situation itself to achieve remarkable results with minimal effort.
When things are handled with patience, they’ll naturally fall into place. Never fear prematurely—trust in your own ability to handle any situation, and trust that no matter what happens, you’ll always find a way forward.
