The Useful Definition of Effort

At times, the ambiguity of certain words, like 'effort,' can lead to harmful effects. In fact, various meanings are intertwined within the concept of "effort," and I believe this ambiguity can have harmful consequences.

To delve into the definition of effort, let's first set the criteria for a good definition. The ideal standard, in my view, should distinguish between factors like talent, environment, genetics, and luck, which are necessary to achieve something, and the very concept of effort. In other words, when one says 'talent vs. effort,' what should 'effort' mean? The definition of effort should encompass two things; 1) something that one can control and choose, and 2) something that enhances the probability of achieving goals (or something that one believes would do so). What else could we possibly consider as the definition of effort? If not, the word effort itself would become meaningless.

For instance, consider someone laboring intensely in an office without an air conditioner or fan in the heat of summer for 18 hours a day, and another person who takes a vacation to improve work efficiency and enjoys a sumptuous meal in a vacation spot. Who seems to be exerting more effort? The latter may be efficient or rational, but it feels awkward to call it an effort. This shows how twisted the concept of effort is.

Beyond the definition I've proposed, let's explore other connotations associated with 'effort.'

Typically, 'effort' conjures an image of someone working relentlessly. But do we genuinely choose to work hard? There seem to be many people who wanted to work diligently but failed to do so, eventually not getting the results they desired. And certainly, some people find it much easier to work hard than others. If this isn't talent, then what is? If we view effort in this way, it's merely one of many talents, and the term effort becomes meaningless. Effort should denote actions that one can choose through a will. But the meanings of effort as a choice and effort as consistency/dedication/diligence are conflicting and muddled. The vice of this confusion is that it may lead to self-blame for not working hard and criticism of others for the same reason.

Secondly, effort also implies enduring hardships. If I nail myself to a cross by forcing myself to stay awake while studying or working, does this excruciating pain symbolize the magnitude of my effort? If I still fail, does it mean my effort was lacking? For effort to be meaningful, it should be considered based on the goals to be achieved, not the amount of hardship endured. The vice of this perception is that it might prevent people from exploring alternative solutions by viewing effort as simply enduring hardship.

If effort is meant to denote 1) a choosable action and 2) an action that increases the likelihood of achieving goals, what would that actually look like? The first criterion suggests that we shouldn't categorize actions beyond our control as effort. Thinking in this way, effort, in this sense, might be viewed as discrete, one-time actions. Working hard isn't inherently effort; it might instead be the outcome of specific actions taken with the intent to work hard.

It is important to understand that *working hard* is not effort, but rather a *result* of effort/talent/environment/luck. In this context, I don't equate 'what a system can achieve as a default result based on its capacity' with 'effort.' If a system's capability falls short, then making changes to that system constitutes effort.

The second criterion seems to imply rationality. But if this really is the criterion, similar to an AI agent executing unconventional strategies that nonetheless increase the likelihood of goal achievement once the goal is set, such radical actions can also be included in the concept of effort.

Though I might prefer to use 'effort' in this manner, I can't dictate how others will perceive or employ the term. Don't we need a new term that denotes continuous actions that one can choose and increase the probability of achieving goals? Of course, language and thought are intrinsically interconnected, so creating a new term won't solve everything.

At a minimum, I believe that contemplating this perspective on 'effort,' even individually, can benefit mental health and could assist in actually achieving goals by exerting true effort.