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1/ The more I learn about entropy, the more convinced I become that it is a crucial concept to understand for succeeding in daily life.
2/ Entropy permeates nearly every aspect of our lives. Here is a quick explanation of how it works and why it matters...
3/ Imagine you dump a box of puzzle pieces on the table. In theory, the pieces could land precisely in the shape of the completed puzzle.
4/ But in practice, that never happens. Why? Because the odds are overwhelmingly against it.
5/ There is only one possible state where every piece falls in order, but an infinite number of states where the pieces are in disorder.
6/ This is the basic idea behind entropy. Entropy is a measure of disorder and there are far more disordered states than ordered ones.
7/ Here's the key point: entropy always increases over time because the odds heavily favor it.
8/ This is known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics. It is one of the fundamental laws of our universe.
9/ "The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of Nature." —Arthur Eddington
10/ Left to its own devices, life always becomes less structured. Ruins crumble. Cars rust. Weeds grow. People age. Sand castles wash away.
11/ In the long run, everything decays. But don't worry. There is also good news. You can fight back against the pull of entropy.
12/ You can solve a scattered puzzle. You can pull the weeds out of your garden. You can clean a messy room. But... it requires effort.
13/ Because the universe naturally slides toward disorder, you have to expend energy to create order, structure, and simplicity.
14/ Relationships require love and attention. Houses require cleaning. Communities require governance. Without effort, things will decay.
15/ In a world ruled by entropy, problems will arise naturally but solutions always require effort. Life never works itself out for us.
16/ In a way, this reveals the core purpose of life: to exert effort to create useful types of order that can withstand the pull of entropy.
17/ Additionally, entropy can help you understand an important insight about living your ideal life...
18/ You possess a unique set of skills and interests. But you live in a society that was not designed with your specific abilities in mind.
19/ Given what we know about entropy, what are the odds that the environment you grow up in happens to be the optimal environment for you?
20/ It is very unlikely that the sport / subject / religion / culture you were first exposed to will also be the perfect one for you.
21/ Out of all the possible scenarios you could encounter, it's more likely you will encounter one that does NOT match your strengths.
22/ Evolutionary biologists have a term for this. When an organism is not well-suited for a situation they call it a "mismatch condition."
23/ You will likely face mismatch conditions in your life. Knowing this, you must take it upon yourself to design your ideal life.
24/ Optimal lives are designed, not discovered. You have to turn a mismatch condition into a well-matched one.
25/ If you're interested, read this article to learn about how entropy impacts art, marriage, and more: jamesclear.com/entropy
