Exhale #32: Embedded Growth Obligations

The entire field of particle physics - the study of electrons, protons, neutrons, and things even smaller than them - may have been a sham for the past 40 years because of something called Embedded Growth Obligations (EGOs).

Eric Weinstein, who coined the term in this podcast, says that "EGOs are structures built into institutions in times of growth that assume growth will continue. An institution must therefore grow to meet its EGOs, or its leaders must lie about the presence of growth."

In the podcast he gives the particle physics community as an example citing this article written by a theoretical physicist. 

"The evidence says particle physicists’ methods for theory-development have not worked for four decades. Yet they continue using these methods. It’s bad science..."

Let’s assume she’s right for the sake of example. Everyone in the field is employed on the assumption of continued discoveries. 

They haven't made new discoveries, for the most part, in 40 years, but they are continuing to justify their employment by "fibbing" as Weinstein says. They tell one small half-truth at a time to create a narrative that keeps them their jobs.

And who can blame them? These scientists have spent their entire careers hyper-specializing on one thing. Their livelihoods, and that of their families, depends on their ability to generate income.

Other great examples are the social security system and pension plans. Systems put in place with the expectation of perpetual growth. 

Now the US government and thousands of companies are obligated to grow or do shady shit in order to fulfill the promises of social security and pensions - even if they don't have the money to do it!

When I learned about this concept, I noticed something that was same-same-but-different in my life.

Any time I judge that I'm not growing fast enough, the story in my head is that I'm not doing life right. 

If my net worth isn't going up fast enough. 

If I'm not learning new skills fast enough. 

When the number of downloads I get on the podcast isn't going up. 

When I'm not having enough brand new insights about myself and how to be better. 

I'm not doing it right.

For years I've believed that if I'm not growing in any given area then I'm failing in that area. I feel flat. I feel guilty for not working harder. I feel insecure comparing myself to someone that is crushing it in that area.

I’m starting to learn that nothing is in a constant state of growth. 

The earth goes through seasons every year and human beings go through different seasons throughout their lives as they age.

In the book the Fourth Turning, the authors write about how many indigenous cultures viewed life and societies as cyclical vs linear. 

The linear view that most have in our society is that we will always continue to grow because that's what we have known for so long. In the period following WWII we saw extreme growth for 30-40 years and started thinking that that was normal when it was really an anomaly.

In the 70s that slowed down a lot, but the promises from institutions and our government did not. Today we're seeing some of the consequences of that and the distrust that many people have for them.

The cyclical view says that all individuals and systems have periods of birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth.

We will all experience periods of growth, periods of stagnation, and likely periods where we feel like things are falling apart as we transition into new phases of life and shed old identities.

Being aware of this natural cycle helps me avoid serving the embedded growth obligation and doing things just for the sake of growth rather than doing things that I truly want to do. 

It helps me enjoy periods where things like being with my son are more important than intellectual growth.

Plus Mark Manson says, "The ultimate goal of self-improvement is to one day arrive at a place where you no longer feel the need to improve"

One ask

If you've been loving this newsletter, I would so appreciate it if you would share it with a friend or two. You can send them here to sign up. My intention is to make this email one of the best things you read all week. To make you think, laugh and hopefully leave you feeling a little more relaxed - like a nice long exhale.

Peace,

Michael