Why (Systems) Change Is Difficult

Hey - I hope your Spring is off to a good start.

It’s in full bloom here in the Lehigh Valley.

Today, we’re going to explore three subjects I can’t stop thinking about:

Systems Change, The Food Paradigm & Human Evolution.

These are some big topics to tackle in under 1800 words.

So, like we do - we’ll do our best. Let’s dive in.

The past few weeks, my life has revolved around a few things: optimizing my health like I never have before, grinding at a disruptive start-up, living with my incredible environmentalist of a girlfriend, and consuming content at a vivacious pace.

So somewhat naturally, these ideas & questions have been on front of mind.

• Systems Change: How are our current systems designed and how might they function in a more efficient and/or equitable manner? What values underlie our systemic rules, narratives & actions? What collective lies are we as a society buying into?

• The Food Paradigm: How is food produced, distributed, and consumed in this country? Why do we treat & look food so differently than other countries? How might we learn from the relationships other countries have with food?

• Human Evolution: How has human evolution influenced the development of culture & our systems? What about the planet? What steps can we take to promote a more vibrant future? How might society shift if we were to reconsider our motivations and/or perceptions?

Day by day, I’m becoming more & more fascinated with the intersection of these topics, especially how they impact our collective mental, physical, spiritual & social wellbeing.

One of the biggest things I’m learning: Before You Innovate, You Must Understand.

Shoutout to my manager, an inspiring leader & mentor, Quazi for sharing this insight with me during my first few months with the team.

Full transparency… I was triggered at first hearing this. It took me a few weeks to uncover the wisdom of this statement.

Now, months later, it’s continuing to grow on me…

In order to reimagine and eventually build a more beautiful future, we must first get clear on where we are now. Individually & Collectively.

Only when we understand & acknowledge the beliefs, rules, systems, and habits that exist presently, do we find a true & productive path forward.

I’m still deep in my learning process and acknowledge that I have a limited perspective, but what I’ve discovered so far was eye-opening for me.

Here’s why change can be difficult - systemic & otherwise:

1. It’s bloody complicated.

2. It feels like complaining.

Where Are We (In Short)?

Let’s start by acknowledging how badly & quickly our systems need to change.

Again, this is my perspective from a privileged standpoint of observation, while millions of Americans comes face-to-face with these inequities every single day. That is something I can only empathize with and try to understand more & more.

The education system perpetuates social & economic inequalities, leaving disadvantaged communities with limited access to the resources & opportunities for quality education. Each day, it’s participants aka our children are served meals packed full of chemicals with limited nutritional value.

Much of our current economic systems are built on fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of climate change. Moreover, financial literacy is rarely taught in schools or to marginalized communities, widening the social wealth gap.

Systemic racism and discrimination are still at the heart of many institutions, such as the criminal justice, employment, and political systems.

The government is undeniably influenced by large corporations, sometimes looking out more for corporate interests rather than the benefit of its citizens. For example, the drug division of the FDA, gets 75% of its funding from pharmaceutical companies. That’s like a referee getting 75% of a donation-based salary from the home-team. I wonder which way those calls would go?

And don’t get me started on healthcare… that’s a rabbit hole for another time.

In short, it’s reactive & profit driven. It’s characterized by high costs, limited access, questionable coverage, and procedures that are as confusing as IKEA directions written in another language.

Can you imagine if health care was preventative, service-driven & free?

That’d be something, for sure, but as you can see, there’s still plenty of opportunities for reimagination, rebuilding, and refinement.

Why is it Difficult To Create Meaningful & Sustainable Transformation?

We, as a society, resist change of all sorts.

For proof, check the list above or the fact that 80% of New Year’s goals fail.

Changing just one action, on a personal level, can be challenging.

Transforming the complex & interconnected systems that society operates within? That’s a whole other level.

So let’s distill it down. What are the fundamental challenges that make (systemic) change difficult?

1. Resistance to Change: People are used to doing things a certain way, so it can be challenging to convince them to try something new. It’s like trying to break a habit or change a routine. The same goes for the stakeholders of a system - they likely have invested time, energy, & resources into the current system, making them resistant to change.

2. Complexity: Systems are often complex & interconnected, making it difficult to change one aspect of the system without affecting others. Picture playing a game of Jenga - one wrong move and the whole tower comes crashing down. To make meaningful changes, it's essential to understand the full extent of the system and its interdependencies.

3. Inertia: Systems can be slow-moving & resistant to change. Even when there is a clear need for change, inertia within the system can make it difficult to get momentum. It’s like trying to build a snowman, it takes a lot of effort to get going, but once it gains momentum, it becomes easier.

4. Lack of Resources: Change of any sort can require significant resources, including time, money, and expertise. Without adequate resources, it can be challenging to implement meaningful change.

5. Power Dynamics: Power dynamics within a system can also make system change difficult. Certain stakeholders may have more power or influence than others and may be resistant to change that threatens their position or interests.

Where Does Change Begin?

The last few weeks, I’ve found myself saying things like:

• “The food system is designed to keep companies wealthy at the expense of our health.”

• “Big Pharma is constructed for profit more than anything else.”

• “The news is a money machine that puts society into fight or flight each morning.”

• “The food pyramid was created by lobbyists, not nutritionists.”

While I agree with the ethos of these ideas because they’re reflective of the current paradigm we live in, the overall sentiment of these observations is negative, border line whiny.

At the same time though - Awareness is a crucial step to change.

Besides taking action, it’s the only necessary step.

In my perspective: Awareness * Action = Change.

Shining a light on the fundamental issues, inequities, & inconsistencies of our current systems can provide a basic understanding of where we’re at.

This context informs how we might want to move forward. It sparks creative problem-solving & shows us what change might look like.

Then we need to go out and actually take those steps & actions.

This Newsletter Is My Action To Inspire Collective Awareness & Reimagination.

As you can see from the current state of affairs, summarized above, our systems need to evolve. Full Stop.

In the months to come, I’m going to share the research, content, videos, and other musings I find while deep diving on these concepts mentioned above.

But for this week’s thesis - I believe that the change we crave is & only will be possible through a collective shift of consciousness.

The I transforming to the We.

Ubuntu is a South African concept that I love, meaning “I am because we are.”

Without you, the reader, I wouldn’t be, myself, a writer.

We all exist as a reflection of one another.

Yet from my perspective, American society (myself included) has lost sight of our connectedness because of our cultural fixation on financial gain through & fierce independence.

The interconnectedness of all things is a through line of so many schools of thought including ecology, Buddhism, Taoism, systems theory & quantum physics.

But we don’t have to know much about any of these things to recognize the inner knowing that we’re all human beings at the end of the day.

We all want the same things - to be seen, heard & loved.

Reconnecting to the awareness of commonality & acting from this place, to me, feels like a pivotal step in all types of change - systemic, especially.

Whether it’s giving or asking for help, working harder to support your team(mates), or realizing that your actions are perpetually setting examples for those around you, tuning into our interconnectedness is a fundamental element of creating the change we wish to see in the world.

What if It Were Easy?

This is a question I’ve been toying with recently.

It’s a very feminine question, in nature.

What would it look like if it and/or I was in flow?

Flow, as expert Stephen Kotler describes, is the “middle ground between discipline & surrender.”

Those moments when time disappears? That’s Flow.

Flow can occur when we’re deep in conversation or playing a competitive sport.

When you’re in flow, you can be 500% more productive or 600% more creative. Learning times can be cut in half (The Art of Impossible).

Companies are starting to give employees afternoon breaks so they can better access flow— like Patagonia’s rule of freedom to surf, as it prioritizes exercise and amplifies flow for employees.

More Flow = More Productivity & Creativity

If you’re interested in learning more about flow, be sure to check out two of the best flow-coaches & humans out there - Cory Camp & Mike Aidala.

They made this podcast together and I’m happy to report - it slaps.

Now back to the question at hand.

What if it was easy?

What if the uphill became a downhill?

What if the red light turned green?

What would we reconsider? How would we respond?

How might things shift? How might we evolve?

Thank You For Being Here

If you’re still reading - I appreciate the hell out of you.

I value you & your attention, deeply, and I felt that some of my prior newsletters were not providing the value you deserve. I wasn’t challenging myself as a writer nor benefitting you as a reader.

So this is my effort to go deeper. To write about bigger & more substantive topics. To explore the complexities of the world in a succinct matter.

Let me know - what system are you most passionate about changing?

Or if you could invent one law, what would it be?

If you enjoyed reading this, it’d mean a lot to me if you sent it to a friend. It helps the newsletter grow.

Wishing you have an awesome week ahead.

Your friend & supporter,

Aidan