How To Get In Shape Using The ‘Anna Karenina Principle’
The Anna Karenina principle stems from the ‘Anna Karenina’ novel from Leo Tolstoy. The novel starts with the now famous phrase:
“Happy families are all alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
The Anna Karenina Principle Explained:
The principle states that we often look for single factor explanations for success. Yet the reality is that success entails an avoidance of a multitude of separate causes of failure.
There are multiple factors that are required for optimal family happiness, these are:
- Agreement on child discipline
- A fulfilled sex life
- Agreement on financial spending
- Agreement on religion
The Principle Applied For Getting In Shape:
The same is true for getting in shape. To get in the best shape of your life, you need:
- Proper discipline/ self control
- Belief in your ability of achieving your goals
- A clear strategy
- A supportive environment
Having 3/4 of these factors is not enough for seeing optimal results. That’s why the Anna Karenina principle applies to getting in shape as well:
“People in shape are all alike, every person out of shape is out of shape in their own way.”