The real sting of this line lies not in dismissing effort, but in exposing our habit of using "trying" as a permission slip for half-heartedness—a way to attempt something while mentally preparing our excuse for failure. When you tell yourself you'll "try" to write that novel or repair the fractured friendship, you've already carved out space for retreat. What Brackett captures is that commitment and action occupy the same space; the moment you stop negotiating with yourself and simply *do*, the internal resistance collapses. A parent who decides to be present—not to try to be present—finds their attention changes entirely; the phone stays pocketed not through grim willpower but because the decision was made before the moment arrived.