Via Negativa: The Study of What Not to Do

Desiring personal change? You may instinctively begin looking for new habits to add to your life.

Your initial thoughts might look something like this:
● I want to improve my life—what new habits can I add?
● I want to improve my business—what processes need to be changed or adopted?
● I want to be smarter—what new knowledge can I acquire?
● I want to grow in my faith—what good deeds or disciplines must I perform?
● I want to improve my health—what new diet or exercise routine can I try?

But one important rule of thumb that I’ve come to rely on is that most complex problems are easier to solve backward. Instead of asking what can be added or changed to bring about improvement, start by looking to see what can be removed or avoided.

In theology and philosophy, this approach is often called via negativa, or “by way of removal.”
I like to think of it as the study of what not to do.