You have to climb up to get down.

The figure is used to discuss activated energy. For example, if we want to obtain energy by burning charcoal, we first need to heat the charcoal. To obtain energy, energy must first be given. This initial energy is the activation energy.

If a person at the top of a small mountain wants to go higher, he/she needs to climb down the mountain and climb higher. You want to climb higher, but you need to get off the mountain.

In general, if we wish to be more X when we are at our most X locally, we must first move in a NOT X direction.

Another physical metaphor is “[You have to crouch before you jump.

The literary expression is “It is darkest before dawn” (I wonder if this is true?).

• blind spot card 6

---

This page is auto-translated from /nishio/降りるために登らなければならない using DeepL. If you looks something interesting but the auto-translated English is not good enough to understand it, feel free to let me know at @nishio_en. I’m very happy to spread my thought to non-Japanese readers.