-Less Is More: The less you focus on outcomes and approval— the things you can’t directly control—the more likely you are to achieve the results you desire.

-More Is Less: The more you obsess about outcomes and seek approval, the less likely you’ll get the outcomes you truly want.

I shared this paradox over lunch with a high school buddy, who immediately related. In high school, basketball was his passion. He poured his energy, identity, and worth into it, relentlessly focusing on outcomes. The pressure weighed him down. Despite his effort, he felt he never reached his potential and fell short of the results he desperately wanted.

In contrast, tennis was a sport he played casually, almost as an afterthought. He didn’t identify as a “tennis player,” so he worried less about the results. Instead, he simply enjoyed playing, focusing on what he could control without anxiety over outcomes.

And guess what? By focusing less on results, he achieved more than he ever imagined—ending the year as a state champion.

Have you experienced something similar? This principle is powerful and universal:

Less Is More: Less focus on outcome means more of the outcome you desire. (Focusing on the process)

More Is Less: More focus on outcome means less of the outcome you want. (Focusing on the outcome.)