[How About This Book] Rest Is Not the Solution to Lethargy

Lethargy Is Highly Contagious and Consumes Life; Autonomy Is Key
Rest Is Not a Fundamental Solution, Small Choices for Others and Support Are Effective

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] How can we help people who feel lethargic?

It is difficult enough to be lethargic oneself, but watching someone else be lethargic is no less of a burden. We want to somehow energize them, but it is not an easy task. Consolation and empathy are only temporary, and even rest is not a fundamental solution. Trying hard to overcome lethargy often leads to becoming even more lethargic.

The fear of lethargy lies in its contagiousness. Whether it originates from personal life or work, it invades all areas of life and hinders concentration. It cuts off the drive in daily life itself, making a normal life impossible.

The cause of lethargy is usually a limitation of autonomy. When one feels dragged along without leading the situation, energy is easily lost. This is why it is said that defenders in soccer get tired more easily than attackers. Attackers proactively create opportunities, while defenders must prioritize responding to situations.

One point to note here: lethargy is different from burnout. Burnout means a state of having no energy due to exhaustion, but lethargy refers to having energy yet wandering not knowing where or how to use it.

So how can one escape lethargy or help others escape it? Cognitive psychologist Professor Kim Kyung-il points out that rest cannot be a fundamental solution. He advises, “It is good to ask for help with something very small that the person can fully control and manage.” Helping others is one of the best ways to regain one’s lost sense of existence due to lethargy. The pursuit of a proper level of meaning and fulfillment is human nature...

The book The Minds of Others (Saemteo) is full of such cases. It contains the results of Professor Kim Kyung-il’s reflections on “why is this so” from the words and actions of many people as a human being. For example, how to distinguish gaslighting, how to identify a playboy, how to deal with habitual latecomers, and why people obsess over MBTI.

The Minds of Others | Kim Kyung-il & Sapiens Studio | Saemteo | 304 pages | 18,000 KRW