001 Why we keep searching the perfect method? 我们总在寻找「完美方法」却难以持之以恆

Lesson 1 – Why we keep searching

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Hey friends, today I want to talk about something I see all the time, in myself and in people around me. It’s about choices. We live in a world full of options, and sometimes that feels exciting. But the more choices we have, the harder it becomes to stick with one.

大家好，今天我想聊一个我常常在自己和身边人身上看到的现象：选择。我们活在一个充满选项的世界，一开始会让人很兴奋，但我们能选的选项越多，坚持一个/一件就越困难。

Think about shopping. Social media is full of full of influencers showing us the next best thing. You see a bag on Taobao, a skincare product, or a lifestyle trend on Xiaohongshu. You tell yourself, “This will finally make my life better.”
And then two weeks later, something new shows up, and suddenly the old thing feels boring.
This is the trap of consumerism.
We’re not just buying things—we’re buying the idea of becoming a “better me.”

想想看购物。社交媒体到处都是网红推荐「最新、最好」的东西。你在淘宝上看到一个包，在 TikTok 上看到一个护肤品，在小红书上看到一个生活的方式。你告诉自己：「这个一定能让我的生活更好。」但两周后，新的东西又出现了，旧的东西马上觉得无聊。
这就是消费主义的陷阱。我们买的不是东西，而是「变得更好的自己」这个幻想。

It’s not just shopping. The same thing happens with habits. For example, exercise. You watch a hundred workout videos—yoga, HIIT, Pilates, dance workouts. You spend more time comparing them than actually moving your body.
Or learning English. People keep asking, “Which book should I buy? Which app is the best? Which YouTuber should I follow?” And they spend months searching, but never stick to one method long enough to see results.

这不只发生在购物上，也发生在习惯养成上。比如运动。你看了一百个运动影片——瑜伽、高强度间歇训练、皮拉提斯、舞蹈课。结果花在比较的时间比实际运动的时间还多。或是学英文。很多人一直在问：「我应该买哪本书？哪个 APP 最好？要追哪个 油管博主？」结果花了几个月在找方法，却没有一个方法坚持到真的见效。

Here’s the problem: when we keep switching, we never get to the part where progress happens. Every method works—if you give it time. Reading one book for 30 minutes every day is better than buying ten books and finishing none.
Trying one workout three times a week for six months is better than jumping from trend to trend. Consistency is the real shortcut.

问题就在这里：当我们一直切换时，永远没办法走到「真正有进步的阶段」。几乎每个方法都有效——只要你给它时间。每天读一本书 30 分钟，比买十本书却一本都没读完要强。每周固定做一种运动，坚持六个月，比一直跟着流行换来换去更好。坚持才是真正的快捷方式。

Why do we keep searching? Part of it is fear. If I don’t find the “perfect” method, I might waste my effort. Another part is excitement. New things feel motivating—for a while. But motivation fades. Habit stays.
So instead of chasing the “perfect plan,” we need to practice sticking to a good enough plan.

那为什么我们一直在寻寻觅觅呢？一部分是恐惧：如果我没找到「最完美的方法」，可能会浪费努力。另一部分是新鲜感：新的东西总是让人觉得有动力——但那只是短暂的。动力会消失，习惯才会留下。所以我们需要的不是追逐「完美计划」，而是练习坚持「一个够好的计划」。

Let me give you a few real-life examples:
A friend of mine wanted to get fit. She kept buying new equipment: resistance bands, dumbbells, a yoga mat, even a treadmill. But she didn’t stick to any routine. Finally, she decided to just walk 30 minutes every evening. Six months later, she looked healthier than ever.

Another friend was learning English. She downloaded five apps, joined three online classes, and bought a grammar book. She got overwhelmed. Later, she picked just one podcast to listen to every morning. A year later, her listening skills had improved a lot.
See? It’s not about finding the best—it’s about sticking to one and giving it time.

举几个真实例子：我有一个朋友想健身，她一直买新器材：弹力带、哑铃、瑜伽垫，甚至跑步机。但她没有固定下来，没有形成习惯。最后她决定每天晚上只走 30 分钟。半年后，她看起来比以往都健康。另一个朋友学英文，她下载了五个 APP，上了三个线上课，还买了一本文法书。结果被搞得不知所措。后来她只挑了一个 Podcast，每天早上听。结果一年后，她的听力大幅进步。看到了吗？重点不在于找到最好的，而是在于固定一个方法，并且给它时间。

So if you’re listening today and you’ve been stuck in the cycle of searching, comparing, and switching, I want to remind you: the fastest way forward is not to find the best method, but to stick with one long enough to see results.
Stop splurging on methods. Invest in consistency. That’s how you’ll finally see change.

所以如果你现在也被困在「一直找方法、比较、切换」的循环里，我想提醒你：最快的进步方式不是找到最好的方法，而是坚持一个方法到真正见效。不要再挥霍在方法上了，投资在坚持上。这才是你能看到改变的方式。

I can say it like this

试着找出下列跟你情况相符的句子,反复跟读shadowing…

I used to keep switching methods because I thought the next one would be better.

我以前总是不断换方法，以为下一个一定更好。

Now I realize it’s not about finding the perfect plan, but sticking with one that works for me.

现在我明白，重点不是找到完美的方法，而是坚持一个适合自己的。

I’ve spent so much time preparing to start, instead of actually doing it.

我花了太多时间「准备开始」，却没真正行动。

Every time I chase something new, I lose the progress I already made.

每次追求新鲜事物时，我都失去了原本的进展。

It’s okay to start small. What matters is to stay consistent.

从小地方开始没关系，重要的是持续下去。

Motivation fades, but habits stay.

动力会消失，但习惯会留下来。

Consistency is what turns effort into results.

持之以恒，才能让努力开花结果。

I don’t need the best method—I just need one that I’ll actually use.

我不需要最好的方法，只需要一个我真的会用的。

I’ve learned to stop comparing and start committing.

我学会不再比较，而是专注投入。

Progress happens when you stay, not when you switch.

成长发生在你坚持的时候，不是在你转换的时候。

Your Turn — 用英文說出你的想法

Q1. When was the last time you switched methods too quickly?

你上次太快放弃一个方法，是什么时候？

A-type (Active & Motivated)

I get excited easily when I find a new idea or tool. Last year, I tried three English apps in one month — each one promised faster progress. But after a while, I realized it wasn’t the app that mattered. It was my habit. So I deleted all of them and kept just one. Now I focus on using it every morning, even for ten minutes.

我常常一看到新工具就很兴奋。去年我一个月换了三个英文APP，每一个都说能更快进步。后来我发现，问题不在APP，而在习惯。于是我删掉其他的，只留一个，现在每天早上固定用十分钟。

B-type (Passive & Hesitant)

I started learning with a YouTube channel, but after two weeks, I stopped because I felt lost. I thought maybe I should find a better teacher or a different method. I spent more time searching than learning. Now I know it wasn’t about finding the best — it was about starting again every day, even when I didn’t feel ready.

我曾经跟着油管(YouTube)学英文，但两周后就停了，因为觉得没方向。那时我以为自己要找到更好的老师或方法，就这样花了更多时间在找，而不是学。现在我知道，重点不是找到最好，而是每天重新开始，即使我还没准备好。

C-type (Perfectionist & Overthinker)

I overthink everything. Before I try a new routine, I read reviews, check blogs, and ask for opinions. I want to make sure I don’t “waste” time. But in the end, I waste even more — doing nothing. Now I try to remind myself that “imperfect action” is better than waiting for the perfect start.

我什么都想得太多。每次要开始新的计划前，我都会先看评价、查文章、问别人意见。怕浪费时间。结果反而什么都没开始。现在我提醒自己：「不完美的行动，比完美的等待更好。」

Q2. Are you still searching for the perfect plan, or are you practicing consistency?

你现在是在寻找完美方法，还是在练习持之以恒？

A-type (Action-Oriented)

I used to believe there was a perfect method waiting for me. I tried reading books, joining online classes, watching tutorials — but every time something felt hard, I switched again. Now, I’ve learned to accept that consistency is the real shortcut. It’s not exciting, but it’s peaceful. I just show up, even when I don’t feel motivated.

我以前总觉得有个完美方法在等我。我读书、上网课、看影片，只要觉得难，就又换。现在我学会接受「坚持」才是真正的捷径。它不刺激，但让人安定。我只是每天都出现，即使没动力。

B-type (Influenced by Environment)

I still compare a lot. When I see others learn faster, I feel anxious. I ask myself if I’m doing the wrong thing. But I’m trying to stop that voice. I remind myself that speed doesn’t matter if I quit halfway. Slow consistency is still better than fast failure.

我还会拿自己跟别人比。看到别人学得快，就焦虑，怀疑自己是不是走错路。但我努力让那个声音停下来。告诉自己：慢慢坚持，总比快速放弃好。

C-type (Reflective & Self-Aware)

I realized I used “finding the best plan” as an excuse not to act. I wanted to feel in control, but that control stopped me from moving forward. Now I practice showing up for small actions — one podcast, one page, one thought.

我发现自己找完美方法，只是为了逃避行动。想掌控一切，反而被卡住。现在我练习每天完成一个小动作——听一个Podcast、读一页书、写一个想法。

Q3. What kind of person are you when things stop feeling new?

当事情不再新鲜时，你是哪一种人？

A-type (Patient & Steady)

When the excitement fades, I remind myself why I started. I focus on the feeling of growth, not on how fun it is. Some days feel boring, but I treat them as part of the process — like brushing my teeth. It’s not exciting, but it keeps me healthy.

当新鲜感消失时，我会提醒自己当初为什么开始。我专注在成长的感觉，而不是乐趣。有时觉得无聊，但我把它当成过程的一部分——就像刷牙，不刺激，但让人更稳定。

B-type (Easily Discouraged)

Once things get routine, I lose interest fast. I tell myself, “Maybe this isn’t for me.” Then I start something else, only to repeat the same cycle. Now I’m learning to pause before quitting, and ask: “Am I bored, or just uncomfortable with progress?”

一旦事情变得重复，我很快就失去兴趣，对自己说「这可能不适合我」。然后又开始别的事，重复同样的循环。现在我试着在放弃前停一下，问自己：「我是真的无聊，还是对成长的不适感？」

C-type (Strategic & Adaptive)

I try to make learning feel fresh again — maybe by changing the environment, not the goal. If I’m tired of reading, I’ll listen to a podcast instead. If I’m bored studying alone, I’ll join a study group. The habit stays, only the form changes.

我会让学习重新变得新鲜——改环境，不改目标。如果读书腻了，我就听Podcast；一个人太闷，就加入学习群。习惯留着，只换形式。

延伸练习：把句型变成你的话

通常我们不是缺句型(学过那么多英语、那么多句型了…)，而是缺「内容灵感」。以下提供常用句型，而内容灵感可以参考上面 ABC 三种不同类型的回答，选择与你相似的部分，改写成你自己的版本。

① My thought is…

→ 用来表达你的「体悟、观点」，也可以放一句让你印象深刻的话。

→ Example:
My thought is that I tend to give up too fast when I don’t see results.

我认为我太容易在看不到成果时放弃。

② In the past, my problem was…

→ 回顾你以前的习惯或模式，也可以放「一个你以前没有意识到的行为」或「阻碍你进步的想法」。

→ Example:
In the past, my problem was that I kept changing study apps instead of staying consistent.

我过去的问题是总是换学习 APP，而不是坚持一个。

③ Now I realize…

→ 说出你现在学到或改变的部分，可以是一条你领悟到的道理，或一个你希望以后能坚持的原则。

→ Example:
Now I realize that one simple routine done daily is more powerful than constant searching.

现在我明白，坚持一个简单的习惯比不停寻找更有力量。

④ I’m trying to be more consistent by…

→ 具体写出你正在做的动作，例如：

studying at the same time every day 或 reviewing one topic every weekend。

⑤ When I get bored, I usually…

→ 加入你的惯性反应，例如：

scroll on my phone / look for something new。

最后，希望大家都能明白一个道理（也能从自己口中讲出）

I realized that discipline matters more than excitement.

Motivation is temporary, but goals are protected by habits.