Vanishing Approach

Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance polymath, had a unique approach to creating masterpieces. He would simply make one brushstroke or refine a single detail and wraps up his work for the day. This method, which he termed the ‘vanishing approach,’ was his way of continually progressing without succumbing to the pressure of motivation (or the lack thereof).

Sound familiar? You know those days when your to-do list looks like a beast you’d rather not face? Well, there’s wisdom in Da Vinci’s method that we can adapt to our lives. Instead of succumbing to the daunting feeling, think one tiny step at a time. If we ditch the all-or-nothing mentality, the battle can become less intense. Imagine trying to get fitter but can’t muster the energy to hit the gym on a Sunday. Why not just do a 5-minute walk?

Does it seem too small to make a difference? That’s the point. These tiny yet intentional actions are like stealthy warriors against the enemy of bad habits. They give us a sense of accomplishment as we see tangible evidence of our progress. The key is to keep the momentum going.