Roberto Benigni, the director and lead actor of the film The Tiger and the Snow (2005), is known for creating films that blend joy and laughter against tragic backdrops. As seen in his earlier work, Life is Beautiful (1997), even in the most despairing situations, he shows that hope can still flourish. The protagonists in his films don’t just think positively—they put forth their utmost effort in everything they do and spread positive energy to those around them.
In Life is Beautiful, Benigni’s character exerts the “power of positivity” for the sake of his beloved son, while in The Tiger and the Snow, he does so for the woman he loves. In The Tiger and the Snow, Benigni plays Attilio, a poet and professor of poetry. Every night in his dreams, he marries a woman named Vittoria, but in reality, Vittoria only responds to him with, “I’ll live with you when I see a tiger in the snow.” Tigers in the snow and snowfall in Rome are impossible stories. One day, however, Attilio receives word that Vittoria, who had gone to Baghdad, has fallen into a coma due to an explosion. Without hesitation, Attilio rushes from Rome to the hospital in Baghdad and does everything he can to wake Vittoria from her coma.
Our previous discussions of Knowing Yourself and Knowing the World were ultimately meant to bring the two together, as that is our goal. In reality, we live most of our lives not alone, but in the company of others. In the context of Knowing Yourself and Knowing the World, “world” (彼) could refer to an individual, a family, a market, society as a whole, or even time. Above all, the uncertainty that time brings is a challenge everyone must face. To meet this challenge, we have prepared a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to understand ourselves and the world. Naturally, these only gain value when put into practice. Action is the practice of what we know. As Richard Bach, the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, said, “We must go out into the world and demonstrate what we know.” Without doing so, we cannot achieve anything in this world. When we act, we encounter results—either success or failure. However, if we do not act, we must live with constant failure.
The difference between those who succeed and those who do not can be summed up in one word: “action.” No matter how much one knows about the secrets to success, what good is it if they don’t act on them? Perhaps there is no such thing as a “secret” to success. Rather, those who consistently put into practice even the most ordinary things we often hear about inevitably reach a certain level of achievement. Achieving a level of success that the world recognizes is another story. They say that positive thoughts lead to positive results, but only when those positive thoughts are put into action. In The Tiger and the Snow, Attilio does whatever it takes for the woman he loves. Instead of sitting in the hospital worrying, he searches for a miracle cure.
For Wang Yangming, a Confucian scholar and proponent of Yangmingism, “knowing is the beginning of doing, and doing is the completion of knowing.” He spent days staring at a bamboo grove, trying to understand the principles of bamboo according to the teachings of the scholar Zhu Xi. However, he concluded that “no matter how long one stares at bamboo, one cannot grasp its meaning.” He realized that “the notion of first understanding all the principles in the world and then acting on them” was meaningless, so his efforts were not in vain. Therefore, he taught that “knowing and doing are not two separate things, but inherently one.” At one time, a “blue-eyed street sweeper” who cleaned up trash at night along Cheonggyecheon became a topic of conversation. He said he chose this as a way to practice Hongik Ingan, the Korean philosophy of benefiting all humanity. When a reporter asked him, “Do you know what Hongik Ingan means?” he replied, “I know because I practice it.” The reporter likely had nothing left to say. What could one say when someone not only knows but acts on that knowledge?
The problem is that many of us, myself included, are not very good at putting what we know into action. Why is that? Why do we remain idle, even when we know these actions will lead us to success? It’s primarily because we lack faith. Knowing something and believing in it are entirely different matters. Without firm belief, we cannot translate what we know into action. James, one of the authors of the Bible, wrote that “faith without deeds is useless.” Belief is the conviction in what we know, and with strong belief, action naturally follows. Add laziness to this, and taking action becomes even more difficult. We all have a system that tends toward idleness if left unchecked. The law of increasing entropy applies to humans too, meaning without effort, we inevitably fall apart and deteriorate.
Fear is another obstacle that prevents people from taking action. Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman said, “There are no limits to thoughts or emotions, only fear creates limits.” Fear of failure makes us hesitate or give up on action altogether. Fear, too, is a fundamental part of human nature. Over time, humans may have evolved to focus more on negative outcomes than positive ones, likely due to survival needs. However, Rita Emmett, author of The Procrastinator’s Handbook, advises, “The energy spent worrying about something is often greater than the energy required to do it.” Sometimes, we are intimidated from the start by the enormity of the task ahead. But as we take small steps forward, we begin to see progress, and the task becomes more manageable. The 2007 oil spill in Taean, South Korea, is an example of this. Seeing the oil-covered shorelines and rocks might make one think, “How could human effort ever clean all this oil?” But as residents and volunteers began scrubbing away the oil, nature slowly started to reveal its original state. As days passed and more of the original rock color appeared than the oil, people began to see hope. Eventually, the end was in sight. Perhaps nature, given time, will finish the job.
Perfectionism—the belief that one must be fully prepared before acting—also hinders action. Perfectionism stems from either a fear of failure or a prideful belief in one’s uniqueness. But it’s through failure that we evolve. In a single instance of action, what we should pursue is “improvement,” not “perfection.” “Perfection” is something that time and our surrounding environment, not ourselves, will resolve. The idea that we can perfectly prepare for the future is a myth, and long-term plans are ineffective unless we possess the ability to foresee the future. The future holds dreams and visions, and these dreams gradually fall within our scope of planning as we take action.
Even when we know, we often delay action due to a lack of firm belief, inherent laziness, and fear of the future. However, there are at least four reasons why we should act, even without perfect preparation. First, action is the best form of training. Second, action creates profit and builds a habit structure that yields returns. Third, it fosters confidence. Fourth, the opportunity may not come again.
Golf and tennis instructors often advise beginners not to participate in games or rounds until they have developed the correct form. The logic is that playing too soon might ruin their form before it is solidified. While this advice seems reasonable, it is not always the correct answer. Action is a dialogue with the opponent. We need the experience of actual competition, where the opponent is present. Only such experience can make our training meaningful. In tennis, the opponent is not just the person on the other side of the court; it’s also the length of the court, the surface, the net, and, in doubles, even your partner on your side of the court. In a game, we attempt to communicate with all these elements. In golf, the opponent includes the grass, wind, slope, trees, fellow players, and caddies. Without becoming accustomed to these, the many days of practice may not bear fruit. Of course, after action, one must reflect and train again. If one practices after a tennis match or rushes to the driving range after a golf round, they are well on their way. Reviewing after a test can also improve one’s skills more effectively than merely studying hard before the test, though, as always, it’s challenging to put into practice. In any case, as thinking, training, and action are repeated, we gradually become masters in our respective fields.
There’s a more important reason to act, even without perfect preparation: action itself is an investment in the future, and it yields returns. Moreover, action results in compound interest. Compound interest is the magic that rapidly increases wealth by accumulating interest on interest. However, since such compound interest products are rare in reality, we must create them ourselves. Those who build a structure where money earns money possess this ability. Fortunately, our actions always yield compound returns. Not only do we gain results, but we also acquire knowledge through experience, build habits, and accumulate career achievements and reputation. The difference between simple interest and compound interest is that it takes 10 years for the magic of compound interest to begin working.
When thinking, training, and action are repeated, habits form. Habits are not only the result of sustained action but also the energy for the next action. The law of inertia applies to action because acting involves force and energy, and it relates to movement. It’s no surprise, then, that moving a stationary rock requires tremendous force. Conversely, stopping a rolling rock also requires significant energy. But once the rock starts rolling, a small push is enough to accelerate it. The first action is always difficult. However, once we take the first step, momentum builds, leading to the formation of habits. When we reach this state, we become unstoppable like a rolling rock. Habits become our energy, delegated to the subconscious, which is more efficient and continuous than conscious effort. When habits form, we become changed individuals. Not only do we recognize this change in ourselves, but others begin to notice it as well. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” He continued, “Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” This means that a person’s character is judged not by a single action but by sustained actions.
As we continue to act, confidence grows without us even realizing it. In contrast, plans to prepare perfectly and perform exceptionally often end in vain, especially for ordinary people. Perhaps we shouldn’t aim for too high a result at once. If we expect outcomes appropriate to our abilities, it becomes easier to act, and through this process, we gain confidence. At the pinnacle of sports, confidence is almost absolute. That’s why people say all sports are mental games. Without confidence, no golf swing can be perfected. The same goes for tennis. A swing without confidence lacks the crucial follow-through, resulting in a poor outcome. Confidence is something that comes from the repetition of training and action.
Even so, there are many times when we hesitate, thinking, “I’ll do it next time.” However, such opportunities are rarely offered. Opportunities first come to those who are better prepared. This means the chances for real practice become increasingly scarce. Hyrum Smith, the developer of the Franklin Planner and author of The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management, pointed out that the first misconception about time is that “we think we will have more time at some future point than we do now.” We mistakenly believe that we’ll have more time next week, next month, or next year, and with it, another opportunity. This is like thinking we can save time. In reality, someone deposits 86,400 seconds into our account every morning, but no balance remains in this account after the day passes.
For better results, execution must be accompanied by goal-setting, positivity, passion, and perseverance. The difference between a dreamer and a doer lies in sustained, purposeful action. If execution is essential for all successful change, then goals are the compass that leads execution to success. At the apex of the knowledge pyramid, we met the world. As knowledge simplified, it gained the power of execution, and similarly, thoughts must become increasingly concrete to be put into action. Being concrete also means being focused. Therefore, if there is a pyramid in the mind, it, too, should become smaller as it rises, with belief or faith, values, and principles firmly supporting it from below. These values or principles are what we usually refer to as self-concept, worldview, and value system. Knowing Yourself is a process toward achieving self-concept, solidified through the personal belief of how one views and accepts oneself. In contrast, the worldview is a comprehensive perspective formed by understanding the natural and human world through Knowing the World and assigning meaning and value to it. The self-concept and worldview together make up our value system, which in turn determines our choices, actions, and attitude toward life. Among these, a positive attitude is, as we’ve discussed, the energy that taps into the power of the subconscious.
Attilio in The Tiger and the Snow is a positive person. He actively seeks out any means to achieve his goal. He finds the positive side in every person he meets and in every situation he faces, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. A positive person, like Attilio, always carries a smile and spreads the power of positivity to others. Positivity is likely the most contagious of all emotions. A single word of encouragement to someone worried about a newly transplanted tree, saying, “Even a metal rod would come alive on a day like this in spring,” can give them courage. Furthermore, if one can be thankful and enjoy life even in difficulty, that’s the pinnacle of positivity. Positivity naturally accompanies passion, and someone who faces the world with such an attitude is bound to succeed.
We’ve heard these ideas so often that we know them well. So, the message we should tell ourselves is, “Start right now.” This doesn’t mean rushing into anything, but rather beginning with what we are confident in and what we truly desire. If we start, not only will laziness and fear that hinder action be overcome, but we will also gradually gain confidence as we see results and become convinced that we can succeed. Furthermore, during this process of action, we might receive help from an unknown force or an unexpected person. It’s like experiencing a “serendipity,” a miraculous coincidence, when we focus and immerse ourselves in our thoughts. Many people who have experienced success or victory share similar stories. Although scientific validation or evidence of universal applicability may be lacking, there are plenty of examples in our surroundings to draw inductive conclusions. It could be human nature to want to help those who are working hard, or perhaps they are motivated by selfish reasons, thinking it might benefit them in the long run. Or, it might be that all of this is the result of blessings sent to us by a higher power.
Most people who sell the concept of “success studies” are simply expressing this “helping hand” in their own way. Some even overlook the helping hand altogether and loudly proclaim the “secret” they’ve discovered based on visible results. Just because someone realizes that the sun will rise tomorrow doesn’t mean they’ve discovered a “secret.” In this sense, James Allen’s The Law of Cause and Effect in Thought, Robert Collier’s The Law of Achievement, Claude Bristol’s The Magic of Believing, and the “Law of Attraction,” which evolved from their ideas and appears to wear a veil to seem mysterious, can all be considered incomplete.
For all these laws or principles to work, two things are necessary: one’s own “effort” and the “helping hand” that emerges in the process. You might think that this ultimately means doing your best and leaving the rest to fate, as the saying jininsadachonmyeong (尽人事待天命) suggests. But that alone is not enough. The great minds of success studies argue that we should not just wait for fate, but with firm belief and the power of positivity, we should draw the “helping hand” toward us. Napoleon Hill, who coined the term “success studies,” called this helping hand the “Invisible Counselor.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet known as the Sage of Poetry, sang about the helping hand that comes from unknown places, calling it “Divine Providence.” Having experienced such help myself, I cannot disagree with them.
Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. — Richard Bach
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