Sublime

down the central “canal” of the column when you look at your student’s back.

Inversion is a powerful tool to improve your thinking because it helps you identify and remove obstacles to success. The root of inversion is “invert,” which means to upend or turn upside down. As a thinking tool it means approaching a situation from the opposite end of the natural starting point. Most of us tend to think one way about a problem:

Using inversion to identify your end goal and work backward from there can lead to innovation.

Begin with abrupt movement. This is sharp, faster than you can think. Try to surprise yourself. Explore abrupt actions—a slice, kick, or jerk. • If you feel yourself starting to pattern your movement, pause. Abrupt is unpredictable—that’s its charge. • Now explore low-energy abrupt. How little energy can you use and still create abrupt movement? •

When working in your favor, automation can make your good habits inevitable and your bad habits impossible. It is the ultimate way to lock in future behavior rather than relying on willpower in the moment. By utilizing commitment devices, strategic onetime decisions, and technology, you can create an environment of inevitability—a space where good