The 40% Rule to Achieve Complete Happiness and Freedom

How many self help books are there, five thousand? A million? I have no idea. They don't work so who cares. The problem is that all these supposed guru charging masters are super-alpha personalities. All their advice assumes most people are alpha people - "go getter types" and "nothing will stop me" types. That sort.

This is the mistake they make when they over-bake. If Anthony Robbins (whose books include Awaken the Giant Within) is alpha then most people are gammas and deltas. Huxley nailed it in Brave New World. Look about - are people running around trying to achieve? It's not a surprise that achievement is not what gives most people pleasure.

Working hard may be divine in remote parts of the Far East but for the rest of the world working hard is a drag. Working really hard really ages you. But even working a little hard really ages you too. You have many creaky joints. You need rest. Cats seem pretty content. They are not working much.

To achieve total happiness one should adopt the 40% rule. In all tasks apply 40% of the amount of energy you would be capable of producing at 100% effort level. Of course, there are exceptions. If you are helping strangers you should apply 50%. Defending your own life about 90%. Doing something potentially dangerous (like driving or swimming) 100%.

In other words, if it is not potentially dangerous for yourself or others, you should not try so hard. 40% is a time honored level of correct effort for most tasks. It is not a level that requires too much thought or action. But it is a real quantity. It is there. It exists. It is certainly not by any measure a "good try". It is more like a "well, at least she showed up".

You have already applied the 40% rule to great effect. Popping into that wake for 5 minutes you got it. Not bothering to say goodbye to everyone around the table when you left is the 40% rule in its mastery. Thinking about changing the old bulbs in the house to halogen is fortunately 40%. Yes, one day you will buy them fancy halogens when you see them on sale at the store. At least now you are still on the field.

This article is about to end. Sure, I could elaborate on a lot of this. For demonstration purposes, however, I think I have created the paradigm 40% article. It's actually better than an article written at 100%. I know you are now only reading at 40% so it all works out so well. If everyone on Earth practiced the 40% rule we would all be dead. Only 40% of the people on Earth need to practice the 40% rule. You got it? The answer is yes. I will now finish organizing my desk to an acceptable 40% level.