Homeostasis, Entropy and Why Your Life Is Parked
Everyone has goals and dreams for their lives, but only a few actually reach them.
TL;DR: this happens because we are unaware of the concepts of homeostasis and entropy, which are, respectively, our body’s natural tendency to seek stability and the state of stress and fatigue that makes us stronger.
In thermodynamics or in medical sciences, there are two concepts that govern the nature of bodies: entropy and homeostasis.
And in addition to certain areas of science, these concepts are also repeated in your practical life — and I love it!
Phenomena that apply both at the most microscopic level to our concrete macroscopic reality is an indicator that we are asking the right questions.
As a matter of fact, important Greek philosophers — such as Aristotle — were already seeking to unravel this type of relationship. But that’s a conversation for another time.
The fact is: knowing the concepts of homeostasis and entropy is essential for you to develop your intelligence and your productive capacity. And that’s what you’ll understand now.
What is entropy?
Entropy of a system, which can be a body, an organism, etc. it is a certain degree of disorder in its natural state.
When something does not behave routinely, when there is some unrest, we can say that there is an entropy situation.
We tend to view clutter as a bad thing, which may even be true. However, it is in the disorder that new ideas, solutions and concepts appear.
Now, an example that can describe you right now: a person under stress at work.
This person may be stressed because he is:
- Looking for a solution to a problem for their customers, which will bring more revenue to their business.
- Being pressured by a controlling boss, fears for her job and doesn’t know what to do.
In both cases, there is an entropy situation.
However, the results of this “nervous state” can have negative or positive consequences.
And, as I said, this is a state, a temporary situation, whose counterpoint is the search for stability, which we will see below.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the tendency of a system to assume a state of equilibrium. It’s like the force that tends to neutralize entropy.
Let’s go back for a moment to the example of stress at work.
Insomnia, headache, tiredness, physical weakness and others are symptoms of someone stressed, right?
That’s why they are symptoms, not a person’s normal state.
Your body is homeostatic.
Your life is homeostatic.
At every moment we look for the routine, the most comfortable situation.
The Entropic Shock
To better understand this idea, let’s imagine a system that seeks balance: a small ball at the bottom of a cavity.
If we push the ball, it comes out of the resting state and moves to the sides of the cavity. At the same time, it tends to park in the center again.
Finally, upon reaching the equilibrium state, the system stops changing.
Simple, isn’t it?
Now, do the following exercise: think that the ball is your life.
Between comings and goings, your life tends to stabilize at a certain point. And you are fully responsible for that.
Are you satisfied with where it parked?
You’ve certainly made progress so far, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep changing positively.
Entropic shock is this sudden attempt at change. It is the decision to leave the comfort zone to seek a better situation, stronger than the previous one.
And what does this have to do with my productive capacity?
We finally come to the million dollar question!
Is your state of balance the best it can be?
Certainly not.
But often our bodies try to sabotage us. He wants peace, tranquility.
However, this accommodation can cause a much greater discomfort in the long run, which is not achieving our goals in life.
Our dreams are often difficult things that take time and effort. As much as our heads deceive us, we cannot let ourselves be discouraged!
There isn’t a single successful person who hasn’t obsessively worked for it. And it’s usually these people who are always wanting more.
When you undergo an entropy shock, you will go through trials. It will take rigor, discipline and fatigue.
Well, that’s how you grow up!
Think of a person that inspires you, someone you would like to look like.
This person is certainly proud of the difficulties her or she has already gone through.
People like this know that despite the discomfort, the resilience and wisdom that result is rewarding!
Trying to get back to the old balance is regressing, it’s counterproductive.
People’s Pursuit of Success
Success can come in many forms.
Self-realization, recognition, charity, money, fitness etc.
Well, the only possible path is successive entropic jolts in your way of being.
Throwing away old concepts, false values and jumping to higher levels of intelligence, productivity and strength.
And that requires personality.
The world wants you stable, standing in the same place. At the first sign of success, everyone will say “you’re overreacting”, “don’t try too hard”, “enjoy now”, among other things.
Don’t listen to that kind of advice!
In addition to homeostasis, humans also have enormous difficulty in seeing their fellow men progress. Believe me, even those closest to you, like family and friends.
Success is lonely, my friend.
Your role in the quest for success is to dribble your brain. Give yourself successive rounds of entropy shock. This is the only possible way.
