If we remember algebra from our school days, when we couldn’t solve an equation, it was easier to solve it if we just inverted the equation. The inversion works in our life as well.
The famous mathematician, Carl Gustav Jacobi used the inversion approach first to solve a complex problem. He used to say his students: “invert, always invert.”
Inversion For Real-Life Problem Solving
Think about any problem. For the purpose of the article, I take the problem of “how to be healthy?” By applying inversion, we change the question, “what is it that would keep us in bad shape?” The answer would be simple. If we smoke and drink excessively, if we don’t exercise, and if we eat greasy food, we can’t hope to be very fit. Now we just need to avoid these things and we can expect to be in good health.
Charlie Munger On Inversion
Charlie Munger asked people to use inversion in life always. “All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there”, was one of his famous sayings.
He once said, “Instead of looking for success, make a list of how to fail instead–through sloth, envy, resentment, self-pity, entitlement, all the mental habits of self-defeat. Avoid these qualities and you will succeed. Tell me where I’m going to die so I don’t go there.”
That is such a great idea to avoid misery in life.
It’s easier to avoid the big pitfalls
If we just remember to avoid all the big pitfalls of life like drugs, gambling, and alcoholism, we can rule out most of the worst things of life and that’s a very good start.
Thank you for reading!
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