If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
<aside> ℹ️ The 'law of the instrument' refers to a cognitive bias in which people want to use the same "tool" for every purpose. Primarily aimed at education it essentially uses the maxim "If your only tool is a hammer then everything looks like a nail." This emphasizes that every problem is unique and requires a different "tool" (or method) to impart the lesson rather than always bludgeoning away with the "hammer" that may not necessarily work.
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According to the law of the instrument, when we acquire a new skill, we tend to see opportunities to use it everywhere. This bias is also known as “the law of the hammer”, “the golden hammer”, or “Maslow’s hammer”, in reference to psychologist Abraham Maslow’s famous quote: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail”.
The law of instrumentation can make us inefficient. When trying to solve a problem or complete a task, we may become fixated on the idea of using a specific skill or tool that we are familiar with. By trying to force it, the task could end up taking much longer than it would have if we had sought out alternative means. Moreover, while always resorting to the same skill or tool will make us more proficient in its use, it will limit us from acquiring other skills, which may benefit us in other situations.
When something feels difficult when it should be easy, ask yourself:
Law of the Instrument, Wikipedia
Why do we use the same skills everywhere?