Summary of the Core Message
This article uses the story of Lü Weifu from Lu Xun’s “In a Tavern” as a metaphor to illustrate how a once passionate young man becomes an ordinary middle-aged man. It contrasts this with the perfect narrative of inspirational stories that promise “hard work will always lead to success,” revealing the complexity and unpredictability of the real world: Don’t treat life like a script for an inspiring story; let go of the obsession that hard work should always be rewarded. Maintain your strengths and resilience, accept things that don’t go as you wish, and learn to live in harmony with those circumstances. Ultimately, focus on solving the problems at hand and avoid being distracted by external factors.
Detailed Analysis
1. Inspirational stories are a “gentle trap”: Don’t treat life like a “sure-to-win script”
We often believe that good deeds will be rewarded and that hard work pays off, which is a concept in psychology known as the “just-world belief.” This belief gives us a sense of security, but it can also lead to cognitive biases (for example, assuming that the poor are lazy or that those who get scammed are greedy). Inspirational stories amplify this notion into a cycle of “suffering → endurance → success,” making us think that as long as we work hard, we will definitely succeed.
However, reality is far from it: you might study hard to get into a good university only to find that the industry has declined by the time you graduate; you could work diligently for three years, only for your department to be replaced by AI. Variables such as your background, the times you live in, luck, and your health have much greater impact on your outcomes than just how hard you try. Hard work is a necessary but not sufficient condition; sometimes, even that’s not enough (for example, if the industry collapses, all your efforts will be in vain). Believing in these stories can lead to disappointment because they ignore the unpredictability of the world.
2. Following trends is less effective than “sticking to what you know”: Your strengths are your real advantage
People nowadays tend to chase trends—resigning from a job to pursue self-media or switching careers when AI becomes popular. But trends change quickly. For instance, self-media was once seen as an exciting field; three years ago, having experience in this area might have been advantageous, but now you might be criticized for not achieving anything or questioned about why you’re still working.
It’s easy to determine what you’re good at: either it generates income or you enjoy doing it (at least one of these two). Working in a job for more than five years indicates that you’re suited for it, and the experience, connections, and skills you’ve acquired are unique. “Resilience” doesn’t mean being stubborn; it means having a solid foundation from which to build on your strengths—for example, if you’ve been in design for ten years, don’t rush into live streaming; instead, refine your skills and turn them into a profitable career.
3. It’s normal for things not to go as planned: Learn to “live with problems”
Most of life is unsatisfactory: parents pressuring you to get married, romantic partners breaking up, or work going poorly. Psychologists use the “acceptance and commitment therapy” metaphor to explain this: problems are like papers in your hands; holding them up blocks your vision, but if you put them down, you can still move on with your tasks. Living in harmony with problems means accepting their existence without letting them disrupt your life.
For example, if your parents pressure you to get married, it’s based on their values from their time (not getting married could lead to discrimination); there’s no need to argue; just understand it. If your partner leaves you, it might be because they can’t handle the challenges of living apart or facing opposition from their family; it doesn’t mean they don’t love you. People who’ve risen from humble beginnings often have fewer emotional ties to their families—they’re focused on achieving their goals.
4. Life isn’t an inspirational story: Embrace complexity and focus on the present
Lü Weifu never achieves a turnaround in the story; he simply walks into the snow silently. Reality doesn’t offer the dramatic “comebacks” found in inspirational stories; there’s only complexity and reality. Hard work doesn’t always lead to rewards, and both people and situations have their limitations.
What you need to do is solve the problems at hand: your current job, your next meal. Don’t push yourself too hard when things are tough (for example, don’t try to set up a stall in a stormy day; there’s no need to rush for an “more resistant umbrella.” Sometimes, the present moment is already the peak of your life—just appreciate it.
This article doesn’t preach grand principles; instead, it uses stories and real-life examples to tell us: Life isn’t a scripted drama with definite causes and effects. Let go of your obsessions, hold onto your strengths, and move forward despite the challenges. That’s the best way to live.