第438期:自由意志的力量

 　　人类总是在不断寻求“我是谁？我从哪来？我要去哪？”这三个问题。早在1989年，出版的《高效能人士的七个习惯》这本书，从四个维度分析了一个人的天赋，分别是自我意识，良知和想象力还有独立意志。我们每个人都可以从这四个维度对自己进行深度的剖析和了解。书中还给出了很多非常深刻而且实用的自我提升的具体方案。在“如何一个目标”“有效的进行自我管理”上，这本书真的是不可多得一本宝典，今天我们就来分享一下这本书当中的一个片段。下面这个部分文字，讲述的是独立意志的重要作用。New Words:

　　endowment n.天赋

　　in accordance with adv.与…一致，依照; 禀承; 秉承; 因;

　　triumph vi.战胜; 获胜; 克服; 打败;

　　proactively adv.有前瞻性地，先行一步地；主动地

　　integrity n. 完整；正直；诚实；廉正

　　discipline n. 学科；纪律；训练；惩罚

　　disciple¹ 使成为信徒

　　superordinate adj. 上级的，地位高的；高级的

　　resource n. 办法;智谋

　　In addition to self-awareness, imagination, and conscience, it is the fourth human endowment -- independent will -- that really makes effective self-management possible. It is the ability to make decisions and choices and to act in accordance with them. It is the ability to act rather than to be acted upon, to proactively carry out the program we have developed through the other three endowments.

　　在自我意识，良知和想象力之外，人类的第四大天赋就是独立意志。有了它，人类得以做出各种抉择，并依据这些抉择行事。独立意志是一种主动行事的能力，它会主动的实行另外三种天赋所给出的指令。

　　The human will is an amazing thing. Time after time, it has triumphed against unbelievable odds². The Helen Kellers of this world give dramatic evidence to the value, the power of the independent will.

　　独立意志具有不可思议的力量，屡屡创造奇迹。海伦·凯勒就是最佳的明证。

　　But as we examine this endowment in the context of effective self-management, we realize it's usually not the dramatic, the visible, the once-in-a-lifetime, up-by-the-bootstraps effort that brings enduring success. Empowerment comes from the learning how to use this great endowment in the decisions we make every day.

　　但当我们将这种天赋放到有效自我管理的范畴时，我们会发现那种突然的，显而易见的，千载难逢的或是完全靠个人的努力往往无法带来持久的成功。这种对于全局的掌控，来自于在日常中做决定时发挥独立意志的作用。

　　Effective management is putting first things first. While leadership decides what "first things" are, it is management that puts them first, day-by-day, moment-by-moment. Management is discipline, carrying it out.

　　有效的管理就是要要事先行。但是领导力决定究竟哪些才是要事，正是通过管理，将这些事情按照每一天，每一刻实施出来。管理就是纪律，贯彻执行。

　　Discipline derives³ from disciple -- disciple to a philosophy, disciple to a set of principles, disciple to a set of values, disciple to an overriding⁴ purpose, to a superordinate goal or a person who represents that goal.

　　纪律来源于追随-追随一种哲学，一系列原则，价值观，目标以及可以代表那个目标的人。

　　In other words, if you are an effective manager of yourself, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will. You are a disciple, a follower⁵, of your own deep values and their source.

　　换句话说，如果你是一个卓有成效的管理者，你的纪律来自于自身，它是你独立意志的一个基本功能。你是自身内心价值观和智谋的追随者。

1 disciple   

n.信徒，门徒，追随者

参考例句：

• Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
• He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。

2 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

3 derives   

v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 overriding   

a.最主要的

参考例句：

• Development is of overriding importance. 发展是硬道理
• My overriding concern is to raise the standards of state education. 我最关心的是提高国民教育水平。

5 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。