125 | Transcending Complexity
July 25, 2022
Minute of Transparency: That's Just Crappy...
Today's Topic: Transcending Complexity
Defining the problem
Distinguishing the problem
You do you moving forward
The simple life
// 1. DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Let's just start with my hypothesis - the reason I did this episode in the first place.
Here's what I'm suggesting:
Complexity is a first world problem that many see as necessary. But in reality, it keeps us locked in a prison of chaos - causing stress, financial problems, medical problems, relational problems and mental health problems.
So that's it - the punchline before the joke.
But it's also the foundation for the joke. So I wanted to get it out there quickly. So you can be thinking in those terms as we proceed.
The idea that by increasing complexity in our lives, we decrease our quality of life on some level.
So let's start with the basics:
Dictionary.com defines complexity like this:
The state or quality of being complex
Not helpful...so let's look at the definition of the word "complex":
Composed of many interconnected parts; compound; composite: "a complex highway system"
Characterized by a very complicated or involved arrangement of parts, units, etc.: "complex machinery"
Now that's more helpful...
So when I refer to complexity in our lives - I'm talking about the myriad of small, complicated and interconnected things that ultimately form your very complex life.
Now let me start by explaining the two sides of the complexity coin:
On the one side you have my first assertion - that complexity exists - and that it has the ability to derail us
On the flip side is my second assertion - that complexity has gotten worse over time, and that it will continue to get worse
Now, I'm going to skip any spiritual or religious analogy here and go straight to science.
According to ScienceDaily.com - this is programmed into us - into our species.
Here is the summary of their article:
"Scientists have revealed what may well be the first pervasive 'rule' of evolution. Researchers have found evidence which suggests that evolution drives animals to become increasingly more complex."
Now I know it says "animals" - but according to evolution - we are animals - just slightly more evolved animals. So the assertion here is that it is hard-coded into us to become more complex.
Now - isn't that interesting? And it should sound familiar. Last week we talked about Maslow and his pyramid called the Hierarchy of Needs. Remember that?
What is his pyramid if not a list of increasing complexity?
You start at the bottom with Basic Needs - which are not very complex - things like air, water, food and shelter
Then half way to the top you find Love & Belonging Needs - the need for friends, intimacy, family and connection - all things that add a level of complexity to your life
And at the very top - you have Self-Actualization - a very complex stage where you are figuring out who you are, how you fit into the universe, how things work and even deconstructing some of the things you believed to be true in the lower stages
This matches up very well with what we just read on ScienceDaily.com - that as a species we are destined for complexity. It's baked into our genetic code somehow.
Now - another way to look at complexity is that it is exists in direct response to another phenomenon called Entropy.
Now I'm not a scientist - or a physicist - but I know enough to be dangerous. And I know enough to understand that there are physical laws - constants that we must adhere to on Earth.
Gravity is an obvious example of a constant. Without it, the universe would come apart - and not in an orderly way. We would float away from the Earth and that would be that.
Similarly, Entropy is a constant that we see in many areas of our life, and in the natural world around us.
James Clear in his article called "Entropy: Why life always seems to get more complicated." makes the following observations:
Entropy is similar to Murphy's Law - which suggests, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”
Because both are based off the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: "...the entropy of a closed system will never decrease."
Now what does this mean in English?
Well, first, we live in a closed system - Earth is a closed system
Next is the constant of Entropy - which has two very interesting definitions:
A state of disorder, or a tendency toward such a state; chaos
A doctrine of inevitable social decline and degeneration
So putting those together - you have the following:
On Earth - we are in a constant state of Entropy - or decline - moving toward chaos and disorder
James explains this in very simple terms:
"It is the natural tendency of things to lose order. Left to its own devices, life will always become less structured. Sand castles get washed away. Weeds overtake gardens. Ancient ruins crumble. Cars begin to rust. People gradually age. With enough time, even mountains erode and their precise edges become rounded. The inevitable trend is that things become less organized."
And there it is. Entropy is the natural movement toward disorganization.
So my suggestion is that the two things we just discussed are working in tandem.
On the one hand, science suggests that it's in our DNA to become more complex. And at the same time, physics suggests that everything is moving toward Entropy - a state of decreased complexity, less organization and eventual chaos.
So could it be that the two are connected? I'm suggesting yes.
That these two things are locked in an Inverse Variation or a Negative Correlation. Simply put - as one increases the other decreases.
James goes on to explain it this way, "Without Effort, Life Tends to Lose Order:"
He looks at it as good news
That we have the ability to push back at Entropy
Doing things like solving a puzzle
Weeding our garden
Cleaning a messy room
But for the purposes of this episode - I'm not talking about things we get to do
I'm talking about complexity that is either required, or that we get caught up in - more and more often
As the universe slowly slides toward disorder - we're expending more and more time and energy to hold things together
At the end of the day - what I'm suggesting is that complexity is baked into our lives. There will always be some level of it to deal with. And it will most likely increase as life goes on.
Even if I lived in a village in the Amazon Jungle. Progress and growth are inevitable. Do you think a small village in the Amazon would go backward in terms of complexity? No - of course not! Every year, every generation they learn something new. They add new customs, new processes for fishing or hunting. And over time this increases complexity. A new tribe moves in down river - now life is a little more complex - because you have to figure out what to do with the new tribe. Are they friends? Are they foe?
And that's an extremely simple illustration of what we face living in America. Our culture is moving toward complexity with incredible speed - and we see it in two ways:
Adding new things, creating new things and developing technologies that push our limits
But we also reinvent things we already have. And in so doing, increase their complexity
// 2. DISTINGUISHING THE PROBLEM
So when we start to look at complexity through that lens - that it is increasing - we find ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Because we see that it's only getting worse - but at the same time - we're doing it for the right reasons - to counter-balance things falling apart - right?
Well - yes and no. Let's talk about that for a minute...
Is all complexity good? And where does it come from?
What I want to suggest that complexity can be clumped into two very different camps:
Baked in Complexity
Self-Generated Complexity
Or maybe the best way to distinguish this is to say:
Complexity we can't get away from
And complexity we have control over
This is what's been weighing on me for the past few months - but looking back it's probably always been there.
This idea that life just keeps getting harder - but that I'm responsible for that in some cases.
So let's look at each of these - starting with Baked in Complexity: (And because we live in the United States - we'll look at it through that lens)
A good example of something that just keeps getting more complex is the Tax Code:
Living in this country means you get to deal with an ever-changing tax code
And do you think it's getting easier to understand?
No! Of course not - it gets more and more complex with every change
Think about how simple taxes would be if it was a set percentage
If they took out 15% from all wages and you got 1% knocked off for every child up to the age of 18
You could still have tax brackets - just set the percentage and forget it
But this would be way too easy
And when something is easy - it's hard to game the system
Think about who stands to gain from a complex tax code?
Politicians, clergy, businesses, corporation and wealthy CEOs
People who can afford accountants to find loopholes
Complexity is the perfect cover - allowing people to get away with things
Next, let's look at basic Life Stuff:
Car insurance - a level of complexity that just doesn't make sense sometimes. My wife and I removed a car from our policy one time and our total premium went up - it actually went up!!! Explain that to me...
Paperwork - the amount of paperwork required to purchase a home, undergo a medical procedure, sign up for student loans, etc.
Medical stuff - think about how convoluted the medical system has become in our country. Insurance is ridiculous. Now there are a thousand different plans from HMO, to PPO to low deductible to high deductible. You have physicians who are in network and out. You can see this specialist but not that one. etc. etc. I mean you can't look at our system from the outside and think, "Wow, I wish I could be part of that." Anyone in their right mind would turn and run the other way!
Television - we used to have one option - a TV and an antenna. Now we have cable, satellite, streaming platforms, and separate Apps for every major media outlet. A new show comes out that looks interesting but it's like, "Oh crap! Can't watch that unless I subscribe to the Macrame Channel at $4.99/mo
Cell phones - complex from the very beginning with all the different plans, being charged for the number of minutes used, the contracts for the phones, all the added fees, etc.
Cars - remember when you could get one or two versions of a model of car? I still remember the Honda Accord - you could get it in LX or EX - done. Now you have: LX, Sport, Sport Special Edition, EX-L and Touring. And that's just the big bucket. Within each of these you now have the ability to build your own - with different engines to choose from, interior stuff, exterior stuff, etc.
Speaking of cars - think about the complexity to simply drive one! Back in the day all you had to know was manual or automatic. Today- get in a Tesla and you feel like you're in a NASA space vehicle. You need to read a 500 page technical manual just to operate it!
Online shopping - think about the complexity there! We now have access to millions of products - right at our fingertips - the problem is - there's too much. I search for something small like plastic grommets for a 1992 Mazda Miata and instead of quickly finding the right thing - I'm presented 50 options - and it's really difficult to tell which one is the right one. Which are built well - which are knockoffs that will break when using them - etc.
At any rate - I think you get where I'm going with this. Our culture, our society and the government controlling everything is rapidly moving toward complexity.
On the outside it's for the right reasons:
We just want to give you more options
We want you to have access to things faster
We want you to have a better life
We want you to be more comfortable
And sometimes these work out - sometimes these are the byproduct. But for the most part - this level of complexity is a smokescreen for greed. Money is at the heart of it all.
Next, let's look at Self-Generated Complexity - the complexity we have control over:
Now some of these are the same as the ones above - because we choose whether or not we want to participate
For example - I could choose NOT to have TV at all. This would eliminate that level of complexity in my life all together
I could choose to buy an older car. Have no payments, less paperwork, and not have to read the 500 page manual
But there are other things. Things we add to our lives for a variety of reasons that increase the complexity
Maybe we need them, or think we do. Or maybe it's peer pressure. And we're afraid we'll miss out on something if we don't add it to our lives. So let's just look at a few:
When I look back over the years I see things like:
Owning a home with a big yard. This presented complexity in terms of keeping the house from falling apart, keeping the lawn watered, fixing broken sprinkler heads, blowing the sprinklers out every year, mowing the lawn, raking up leaves, shoveling snow, putting down chemicals for grubs and moles, cleaning out the gutters, keeping the basement from getting wet, fixing cracks in the driveway, replacing screens, replacing lightbulbs fixing the walls when they got scratched and needed repainting, cleaning the carpets when they got stained, and the list never ended...
Now - there's nothing wrong with owning a home - and there's nothing wrong with the typical upkeep on a home. But it's important to understand that there is a continuum. There are normal, average homes, and then there are larger homes that increase the complexity. The larger the home, the more expensive, the more land and often you find yourself part of an HOA. Just one more level of complexity to be part of
And now we have smart homes. In the future, every door lock, light, thermostat, garage door, oven and toaster will be connected to your wireless network. So you can manage it all right on your phone. But think about the time it takes to install this system, finding all the right components, getting them all set up correctly, troubleshooting them when they fail to connect, replacing them when newer tech comes available. See the complexity you've just added to your life? All in the name of making your life more comfortable?
I think about travel sports - something that we loved - and did bring us a lot of joy. The time spent with our kids, coaching, driving them to practice, watching games, attending weekend tournaments as a family - with the other families represented. But think about the complexity that existed as well. The money spent, the travel, the hotels, the annual fees, the paperwork, the new jerseys every few years, the new cleats each season, the volunteer hours put in to help the club grow. A level of complexity we enjoyed - but at the same time, added complexity
// 3. YOU DO YOU MOVING FORWARD
So why am I even bringing this up? I mean - if life is just going to get more and more complex - shouldn't we just assume that and buckle our seatbelts?
Well, I think that's the problem on some level. As each year goes by - and things get more complex - we just roll with the punches. We keep adding in the new levels of complexity and keep moving forward.
But at what cost? It's no surprise that in this country we struggle with things like:
Obesity
Addiction
Anger problems
Depression
Anxiety & Panic attacks
Stress
Not enough sleep
High suicide rates
High divorce rates
Gun violence
etc.
Is that just a coincidence? You tell me!
I'm inclined to believe that these are the natural and logical consequences of our behavior - living with ever increasing complexity. And on top of that - we got to experience the COVID-19 Pandemic - which added a whole new level of chaos and complexity - and it just about broke us.
But there was an interesting thing that happened during the pandemic. A small positive byproduct.
The pandemic forced many of us to slow down a bit. To stop doing some of the complex things that we used to do. And for a hot second - we took a breath. And realized that we'd been running really fast for a really long time. And the same was true for nature. Remember the images from large cities around the world where pollution was so bad? All of a sudden you could see the surrounding landscape? Birds and animals returned to places they had once fled. Amazing!
Okay - before we leave this section I want to discuss two things:
The spiritual side of complexity
Different strokes for different folks
First, let's talk spiritual implications:
Because I don't think complexity is just a human problem
I don't think we are smart enough to do this all by ourselves
I believe complexity is part of the Human Condition - but also part of the Controversy between God and Satan
And that Satan uses complexity to his advantage - keeping us as distracted as possible
And keeping us depleted, depressed and stressed as much as possible
If you believe God created us - and that the Bible is the operators manual
It should be pretty obvious that God created space for us to rest
He even worked it into the creation week
He created for 6 days and then rested for 1 day - a repeating pattern of 6 to 1
It is called the Sabbath - and was meant to continue throughout time
But why? Maybe because God understands that we need rest from complexity - especially if complexity is only going to increase
And isn't it interesting that the world has thrown out the Sabbath
The world is no longer running on the 6 to 1 rhythm
We go hard for 7 straight days - then do it all over again - with little to no rest
Yes we have weekends - but think about how much stuff we pack into our weekends in order to feel like we've had "successful down time"
But unfortunately by doing all these things in our down time - we simply keep the complexity going - even on the weekend
And that's what Satan hopes for - it's what he has pushed for. Keep going, keep moving, do more, experience more, wear yourselves out and forget about your Creator - after all - what does He know?
The early bird gets the worm
If you don't take it someone else will
Get it before it's too late
Stay up late - Get up earlier
Grab the bull by the horns
It's what it takes to have stuff - and to be truly happy
Ok - now let's talk about personality:
Different strokes for different folks
My wife and I have had numerous conversations about this and I don't know that we ever land the plane
Best case scenario - we agree to disagree
But what I think it comes down to is personality
Tammy is an Enneagram 7 (also an extrovert) - and loves to be on the go - doing something new all the time. She hates down time and will always look to fill her day with stuff to do
To me, an Enneagram 1 (also more introverted) - I am more into a stable routine that includes down time
And my assumption is that there are people across the entire spectrum:
Some thrive on rest
Some thrive on complexity
And everything in between
So this episode will hit different based on what type of person you are
So back to the title of this section: You Do You Moving Forward
I said it this way because I know there is no Easy Button. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to complexity.
The things I do to combat the side effects of complexity will be completely different than the things you do.
But my assumption is that each of us needs to do something. My assumption is that complexity is depleting all of us - just at different levels.
// 4. THE SIMPLE LIFE
So what are some ways to combat complexity?
Like I said - it looks different for each person.
Here are a few trends I've seen on social media:
People are moving away from large cities. Moving away from the fast-paced environments where stress levels are as high as the standard of living
The Little Hose movement. People downsizing drastically - building small, utilitarian homes that are affordable and only provide the necessities
The Mobile Home phenomenon. Many people are selling everything and jumping in RVs, or converted delivery vans in order to live more simply. They work remotely and drive around exploring the country
And there are those who go to the extreme of living off the grid. Literally going back to a simple life - living off the land and purging complexity from their lives
But these are pretty significant things. Life altering things.
What about the average American? Living in the real world, with real problems and real complexity...
What can we do?
In a word - simplify.
Again - it will be different for each of us. But we can call it the same thing. We're simplifying our lives in order to keep the increasing complexity from harming us.
Because it is - on so many levels. And maybe that's the first step for many of us. Taking a good, hard look at our lives and admitting that there is way too much complexity. That our lives are out of control - and it has led to stress, depression, anger, and maybe that addiction we don't want anyone to know about...
Maybe identifying that - will help us see the need to simplify.
So what does it mean to simplify? I don't know - maybe stuff like this:
Getting rid of things - material things
Purging our homes and just keeping essential stuff
Decreasing the number of things we're signed up for
Deleting Apps, online platforms and media outlets we don't use
Decrease our time on social media
Downsizing the number of vehicles we own
Moving into a smaller, cheaper home
Limiting travel, or activities that seem to interfere with regular living
Adding some down time to our lives
Adding times of silence and solitude
Spending a bit more time in nature
Trying to "disconnect" on a regular basis from all technology
Stop trying to keep up with the latest trends
Stop working more to have more
Work less and enjoy the things you already have
Again - different strokes for different folks. I'm not prescribing what simplification looks like for you.
But if you ever feel like you're on the hamster wheel. If you feel like you're part of the rat race and it's going to kill you someday.
Maybe now is the time to simplify. In the areas you know you need to. Based on your lifestyle and your personality.
And who knows - maybe as the complexity decreases we'll find the following to be true:
We're able to think more clearly
We're able to focus longer on things that are important
We have more time for people - and relationships
We have more cognitive margin - space in our brain for new ideas to grow
Let's Land the Plane:
Maybe that's the big question for this week: Do we have margin in our lives? Or are our eyes glazed over as we walk forward trying not to bump into people?
Maybe asking these questions will help flesh that out:
Have you ever looked at complexity as a problem?
Are you able to see the difference between the complexity that is baked into life, and the complexity that we choose for ourselves?
What areas in your life are overrun with complexity? And what impact has it had on your life?
If you were to start simplifying your life - what would that look like?
What could you stop doing this week?
What are some things you could start doing to add margin to your life?
And that's all for today.
Thanks for joining us.
Until next time everyone, have a great week, keep it simple, and as always, keep Transcending Human!