How to apply First Principles in daily life?

Hello, this is an interesting question. I'll try to explain my understanding in simple terms, hoping it helps you.

In essence, "First Principles Thinking" simply means "digging to the root, returning to the essence."

When we usually solve problems, we mostly rely on "experience" or "imitation." For example, "everyone else does it this way, so I will too," or "I solved it this way last time, so I'll do it again." This is called "analogical thinking," which is convenient and efficient, but it can easily limit you.

First Principles Thinking, however, encourages you to be like a curious child, constantly asking "why" until you find the most core, fundamental "fact" that can no longer be broken down. Then, you start from this "fact" to rethink solutions.

It might sound a bit abstract, but a few real-life examples will make it clear:

Example 1: About "Weight Loss"

• Conventional Thinking (Analogy): I want to lose weight, so I need to get a gym membership, hire a personal trainer, and eat only "grass" (boiled chicken breast, broccoli), because that's what all the fitness influencers do.
• First Principles Thinking:
  1. Ask: What is the essence of "weight loss"? — It's about making your body's "consumption" greater than its "intake," creating a calorie deficit. This is the most fundamental physical/physiological fact.
  2. Ask: How do I increase "consumption"? — Through exercise and basal metabolism. Exercise doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym; running, jumping rope, doing push-ups at home, or even doing more housework can increase consumption.
  3. Ask: How do I control "intake"? — It doesn't have to be "diet food." As long as my total calorie intake is less than what I burn, I can still eat rice, stir-fries, and even an occasional ice cream, as long as the total amount is controlled, and I'll still lose weight.
  4. Reconstruct the Plan: I see! I don't need to spend a lot of money on a gym membership. I can choose exercises I enjoy, like playing sports or running, which makes it easier to stick with. For diet, I don't have to eat "grass" every day; I can just use an app to count calories, reduce the portions of my favorite meals, and ensure my total calorie intake meets the target. This saves money, makes the process less painful, and increases the chances of success.

Example 2: About "Cooking"

• Conventional Thinking (Analogy): I want to make "Yu Xiang Rou Si" (Fish-flavored Shredded Pork), so I must follow the recipe strictly, measuring soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar precisely, and not skipping a single step, or it will fail.
• First Principles Thinking:
  1. Ask: What is the essence of "Yu Xiang Rou Si"? — Its core is to create a complex "fish-flavored profile" that is "salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and umami," and combine it with stir-fried shredded pork and vegetables (like wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots).
  2. Ask: How is this flavor profile achieved? — Saltiness comes from soy sauce/salt, sweetness from sugar, sourness from vinegar, spiciness from doubanjiang/chili, and umami from green onions, ginger, and garlic.
  3. Reconstruct the Plan: What if I don't have wood ear mushrooms? Can I use shredded king oyster mushrooms? Of course, they just provide texture. What if I don't have the specific vinegar from the recipe? Can I use another type of vinegar and adjust the quantity? Yes, as long as I can achieve that balanced sweet and sour taste in the end. In fact, I can use this "fish-flavored profile" to make "Yu Xiang Eggplant" or "Yu Xiang Tofu"—everything can be "fish-flavored."

You see, thinking this way means you're no longer a slave to recipes but become a "chef" who understands the essence of cooking.

How to practice this in daily life?

It's simple: the next time you encounter a problem or want to achieve something, don't rush to search "how others do it." Instead, "break it down" yourself:

1. What is my current idea/approach? (e.g., I must buy a school district house for my child to attend a good school.)
2. What is the most fundamental, underlying logic/goal of this matter? (e.g., The goal is for my child to receive a quality education. The essence of quality education is good teachers, a good learning environment, and scientific teaching methods.)
3. Based on this underlying logic, are there other paths to achieve my goal? (e.g., Can I afford a very good private school? Can I send my child to a school with specialized education? Can I invest more effort in tutoring them myself and creating a good home learning environment? Which of these paths has lower costs and is more suitable for me?)

By practicing this regularly, you'll find that many "rules" and "restrictions" that bothered you don't actually exist. Your problem-solving perspective will broaden significantly, and you'll discover many "shortcuts" that others might not think of, which are more suitable for you. It's not some profound theory; it's just a way of thinking that helps you live a clearer, freer life.