Summary of the Key Points
This article illustrates a common set of "self-destructive lifestyle beliefs" among people born in the 1970s and 1980s through the personal experience of an entrepreneur in his 80s who was hospitalized. These beliefs include disdain for sleep, overworking to impress others, a distorted view of suffering, and self-mutilating efforts to prove oneself, all of which can lead to irreversible physical damage. The main message of the article is that health is more important than face and so-called "proof of success." Many people's achievements are not due to their self-destructive behavior but rather to the benefits of the times; putting aside others' opinions and living a good life is what truly matters.
1. The Misunderstood View of Sleep: Viewing Lack of Sleep as a Sign of Strength, Ignoring the Body’s Signals
The protagonist in the article was proud of being energetic despite sleeping little, believing that sleeping too much meant being lazy. Even when his health warned him multiple times (such as during his previous hospitalization), he ignored it and preferred to use his phone rather than go to bed early. Sleep is the only time for the body to repair organs and minor injuries—just like charging a phone; if you keep using it without fully charging, the battery will eventually fail. His prolonged lack of sleep caused irreversible damage to his body, and now he has to live a life similar to that of an elderly person, unable to engage in intense exercise or taking medication regularly.
Many people have this problem: they are not really too busy to sleep but are afraid to admit that they need rest, thinking that sleeping too much means losing. However, the body doesn’t lie; the laziness you impose on it will eventually catch up with you.
2. Performance-Driven Self-Destruction: Pushing Yourself to the Limit for the Sake of Appearing Hardworking
This entrepreneur liked to send messages to his work group in the early hours and clock in at five or six in the morning, aiming to make his employees feel that "even the leader works so hard, why should you sleep in?" Despite knowing this was annoying, he couldn’t stop, fearing that others would think he was weak. He even came to believe that sleeping was for the lazy and the dying. This behavior is essentially about maintaining a facade, trying to make others see him as tough or strong, and he even made it part of the company culture. But the result? His employees were not motivated, and he was the one who broke down first. Doctors call this "performance-driven self-destructive behavior," which is quite common among people born in the 1970s and 1980s—basically, trading one’s life for a sense of presence.
3. A Distorted View of Suffering: Seeing Comfort as a Sin, Even Attacking Those Who Are Doing Well
Growing up in poverty, this entrepreneur developed the belief that life should not be too comfortable, feeling guilty for any comfort and even fearing that bad luck would follow. Even after becoming wealthy, this mindset did not change; instead, it became a tool to attack those who were living easily, thinking, "If you haven’t suffered, why are you doing well?" This attitude is contradictory: he could have led a comfortable life but chose to endure hardship, and when he saw others enjoying comfort, he felt they didn’t deserve it. Suffering is neither honorable nor a necessary condition for success; doing well does not mean you haven’t worked hard, you just don’t need to prove yourself through self-mutilation.
4. Self-Destructive Exercise: Exercising Despite Lack of Sleep, Only Causing More Harm
Doctors had advised him to rest more, but he thought rest would be useless and instead went to the gym when he was tired. He didn’t realize that exercise itself does not improve health; it causes minor injuries that can only be repaired during rest (for example, muscle growth). Without proper rest, exercise only exacerbates the problem. His lack of sleep combined with excessive exercise led to blocked blood vessels and premature aging of his organs, nearly costing him his life. Many people make this mistake, thinking that "exercise equals health" without realizing that rest is a prerequisite for its benefits.
5. Realization After the Hospitalization: Putting Aside Pride, Acknowledging That One Is No Special
After being hospitalized, he finally realized that others’ opinions don’t matter at all; the imagined "audience" he had created was actually non-existent, and it was only he who was watching himself self-destruct. He also acknowledged that his success was largely due to the benefits of the times (such as a period of rapid economic growth), not his own self-destructive behavior.
The death of Zhang Xuefeng further scared him, as their experiences were too similar: he had ignored advice during his previous hospitalization and even intensified his self-destructive habits. Now he has become much more honest, understanding that living is the most important thing, and nothing is more valuable than health.
This article reflects a common phenomenon among many people who once thought they were special and could endure anything. Only after experiencing life and death do they realize they are like everyone else, and without a healthy body, everything else is lost.
In Conclusion
The article concludes by mentioning that China is undergoing a shift in values: those who used to engage in self-destructive behaviors are now showing the consequences of their actions. Success never comes from pushing oneself to the limit but from choosing the right direction, leveraging the opportunities of the times, and living a good life. After all, without health, all the so-called "greatness" is nothing more than fleeting clouds.