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The Backwards Law is not a person, but rather a philosophical concept, most popularly discussed by British philosopher Alan Watts, and more recently explored in mindfulness, psychology, and self-help literature. Here's a detailed "biography" or breakdown of The Backwards Law as an idea: What Is The Backwards Law? The Backwards Law states that: “The more you pursue feeling better all the time, the less satisfied you become, as pursuing something only reinforces the fact that you lack it in the first place.” In simpler terms: Trying too hard to be happy makes you unhappy. Trying too hard to be rich reminds you that you’re poor. Trying to be accepted makes you feel rejected. The more you chase it, the more it runs away. Origins & Influences: Alan Watts: A central figure in bringing Eastern philosophy to the West, Watts explained that desire, effort, and attachment often push happiness and peace further away. His teachings pulled from Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Vedanta. Taoism (Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching): Emphasizes "wu wei" — effortless action. Don’t force life; flow with it. Buddhism: Teaches that craving (tanha) is the root of suffering. The harder you cling, the more you suffer. Modern Psychology: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness echo this — teaching that acceptance leads to peace, while resistance leads to pain. Key Principles of The Backwards Law: Pursuit Reinforces Lack: Wanting happiness reinforces that you don’t have it. Letting Go Brings Peace: When you stop trying so hard to “fix” life, you start experiencing it fully. Non-resistance: By accepting discomfort, pain, or sadness, they often lessen naturally. Paradox of Surrender: When you surrender your need to control everything, you often find more inner control. Examples in Life: The more you try to fall asleep, the harder it gets. The more you try to be cool or liked, the more awkward you feel. The more desperately you want to be happy, the more you notice what’s wrong. Impact and Modern Use: Self-help authors like Mark Manson in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**,* draw heavily from the Backwards Law. Mindfulness teachers, therapists, and life coaches use it to help people manage anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm. It's a popular topic in stoicism, minimalism, and emotional intelligence discussions today. In Summary: The Backwards Law teaches that peace and happiness often come not from chasing more, but from accepting what is. Letting go of the need for things to be different often brings the very freedom we were looking for.