We explain what effort is, its relationship with dedication, willpower and why it is a value. Also, the effort in physics.
What is effort?
By the word effort it is possible to understand different things, all linked to the notion of force, which is included in its etymological origin: “effort” comes from the union of two Latin voices: the prefix former- (“Outward”) and fortis (“strong”). So the effort consists in manifesting force, that is, putting effort, channel physical, mental, or emotional forces toward achieving a goal.
Thus, we make a physical effort when we push a piece of furniture to move it, but we also make an effort when we endure a situation that is uncomfortable for us. Hence, this word can be applied, figuratively, to any possible scenario, always referring to the concentration of our forces to achieve something that we have proposed.
Logically, effort comes from the verb strive, linked to force, since they are verbs derived from the notion of force. In some cases, effort can be used as a synonym for “intent.”
Effort as value
The idea that in life we must strive to achieve what we want, that is, that we must work on what we want to achieve, is a key value shared to a greater or lesser extent by all cultures.
Its foundation is that nothing in life is free, but that we must strive in some way to obtain it, and that also those things obtained through effort are much more valued than those things obtained easily, since they come to represent the fruit of the totality of our work.
In fact, in many religions effort and dedication are rewarded by divinity or they constitute the way to get closer to God, while in others it constitutes part of the divine punishment of humanity, as occurs in the biblical Old Testament, in which Adam and Eve, the first human beings, are punished by God with work, Pain and death.
Effort and dedication
It is common to hear these two terms – effort and dedication – are named together. This is because They form a highly valued pair culturally and to which the achievement of any goal is attributed It is vital that we propose ourselves: if we channel our forces towards it (effort) and invest time in achieving it (dedication), the most likely is that we will be successful.
Thus, effort is understood as the concentration of forces (physical or mental), while dedication translates into a sustained investment of time to achieve something.
Although together they are key to success, it is possible that they manifest separately: a person can dedicate himself to a task, that is, invest hours in it, but at the same time dedicate the least possible effort, that is, spend a lot of time but invest a lot. low energy. Or the opposite: you can invest a lot of effort in this activity, but do it so sporadically that the results take a long time to achieve.
Effort in physics
In the field of physics, the science that studies the forces and energies of the natural world, the notion of effort is different, particular. Sometimes can be used as a synonym for work (W): the ability of a force to generate a displacement in a body in the same direction, once a necessary amount of energy has been applied to it.
In other cases, efforts (plural) are the set of internal forces that try to hold a body together, that is, those that keep the particles together and in equilibrium. These forces are also called stresses. There are, therefore, tensile, compression, bending, torsion or shear stresses, which resist movements of each of these types, promoting the cohesion of the matter.
Willpower
Willpower it is the ability to organize and channel one’s own behavior, in such a way as to sustain attitudes or activities over time They can be unpleasant or uncomfortable, but will pay off in the long run. Willpower is key in achieving goals, since without it it is very difficult to sustain the effort over time, that is, to have dedication.