When I think about the mental models I use to navigate the world, there is one idea that has been absolutely fundamental to my life and the way that I see things.
It’s the idea of Systems Thinking (or System Theory).
The core of the idea is that EVERYTHING can be understood as part of a system - which is made up of individual parts, and then the relationships between those parts.
One of the most obvious examples of this is an eco-system - a group of organisms (parts) that all impact each other (relationships).
Within this eco-system, you have the individual groups of organisms (deer, wolves, rabbits, trees, plants, soil, etc.), but then you also have the relationships between these groups of organisms.
And one of the most valuable pieces of Systems Thinking is studying and understanding the relationships in any given system.
Because when you understand the RELATIONSHIPS between these groups, you start to understand the underlying forces and patterns at play that impact the eco-system as a whole.
Say for example that within an eco-system, the rabbit population suddenly skyrockets.
There’s an overwhelming number of rabbits, which is causing issues in other parts of the eco-system (they’re wiping out the vegetation, causing issues in the local town, etc.)
If you ONLY look at the individual group - you say, “Wow, there are too many rabbits. We need to control the rabbit population.”
So maybe you start offering bounties to people to go kill rabbits. Or maybe you introduce a new kind of predator into the environment that hunts and kills rabbits.
But here’s the catch - you’re not really addressing the core issue.
You are addressing a SYMPTOM of the core issue.
Let’s say in this hypothetical example, that the rabbit’s natural predator, the wolf (the part of the system that kept the rabbit population in check), has had their population drastically reduced.
Maybe a local town felt that the wolves were a threat, and allowed people to hunt them.
Maybe development started on a big piece of land that was the wolves main home, and they’ve since moved.
Or maybe someone’s been poisoning the wolf population.
Regardless of what’s causing the wolves demise, when you understand the RELATIONSHIP (wolf->rabbit) that’s causing the SYMPTOM (hella, hella rabbits) you are much closer to addressing the CORE issue.
And addressing the core issue is the most effective solution, because you are, in a sense, cutting off the problem at the head - you are working to rebalance the system.
What I find so interesting, and why I think this approach to solving problems is so important, is because as a society we seem to have an obsession with fixing the symptoms, instead of addressing the actual core issues.
A few examples (these are highly simplified):
Western Medicine/Healthcare
Symptoms: Malnourishment + issues in the body from vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Approach: Take these vitamins and supplements to fix the problem.
Core Issue(s): An improper diet - not getting the proper nutrients you need from the food you’re eating.
Corporate culture
Symptoms: People are disengaged at work, not going above and beyond, not producing top quality work.
Approach: Micro-management systems, tracking employee keystrokes and screen time, harsh rules and policies.
Core Issue(s): A culture and Leadership team that views people as resources, and is unwilling or scared to innovate and do things differently.
In a relationship:
Symptoms: Disinterest in sex or no sex life at all.
Approach: Ignore the issue, normalize/rationalize it, watch porn, potentially infidelity or (in some cases) wanting to “open” the relationship.
Core Issue(s): Lack of authentic, honest communication, breakdowns in partnership and intimacy, potentially a core mismatch in values/personalities.
On the individual level
Symptoms: Depression, anxiety, general lethargy, lack of excitement.
Approach: Stimulants, drugs, alcohol, video games, activities that distract and numb.
Core Issue(s): Unaddressed trauma, lack of purpose, lack of adequate support systems.
Part of this obsession with fixing symptoms (I think) is that oftentimes it’s easier, and has us feel that at least we’re “doing something”.
I think the “Script” also incentivizes people to ignore the core issues and focus on the symptoms (because it’s comfortable and it’s what everyone else is doing).
And especially with these larger scale problems, like those in government, it can feel a bit overwhelming to address the core issues, especially when there’s a financial incentive to not address the core issue (looking at you Big Pharma).
That said, using systems thinking to understand and discover the core issue is ESSENTIAL to making meaningful, lasting change.
Because at the end of the day, only addressing the SYMPTOMS does not work to solve the problem. It might alleviate it temporarily, but it will continue to persist.
I find this especially exciting when applied on the individual level, and candidly is what underpins much of the impact that I want to have on the world.
Because if we all started to use Systems Thinking to address the different parts of our lives, we’d spend so much less time being distracted by the symptoms, and actually addressing the core issues.
And when we address the core issues, we remove our biggest roadblocks to fulfillment, happiness, and a rich life.
Would love to hear from you:
What are your thoughts on Systems Thinking?
How do you apply it in your daily life?
Or if you hadn’t considered this perspective before, how might it change how you’re going about things?