Entropy is one of the most overlooked concepts in thermodynamics, quietly present in the phenomena of life, energy, and force. It is defined as the measure of randomness, or energy dispersal in a system. To put it into perspective, take a block of ice in a normal room temperature. With the drop in the temperature of the ice block, the energy in the matter particles starts dissipating and the ice slowly starts to melt. This is entropy. In nature, events are irreversible because they move toward a state of higher probability and greater disorder. The greater the dispersal or disorder, greater is the entropy. High entropy leads to less work done because it is spread out and is unavailable to be utilised. Now when we see through the trajectory of life and force in human nature, this phenomenon reflects in these processes as well. Our bodies and minds are also subject to entropy – aging, decay, mental dissolution.
Entropy is inevitable – everything moves toward disorder. In that case, is there a way that can slow down the gears of entropy in our way of living? Can we work towards better energy, productivity, longevity and quality of life with the knowledge of the law of nature? Well, the good news is – you can.
Change is constant. Change is also something humans are often resistant too. Well, it is not because they hate progress, but rather because it is a natural survival response driven by how our brains and emotions handle safety, routine, and uncertainty. Neurologically, the brain treats unknown shifts as a metabolic and survival threat rather than an opportunity which makes any change, good or bad just as difficult if not easier. Hence, the choices we make (and don’t), habits we develop, thoughts we think, all of these mundane human processes tend to have a compounding effect leading to the better or worse. And the calls we make shape our physical well-being. The human mind and body are extremely intertwined in their functionality, which means our mental state clearly affects and reflects in our physical state and vice-versa. This is when it becomes important to learn on how to make the brain work in our favour with least resistance possible.
Entropy increases or keeps its momentum going in state of disorder. In such a case, how can we lower the entropy of our processes?. Through order. Literally. By creating a pattern, or a routine that works for us is legitimately the only way you can resist the entropy of our processes. But we’ve already discussed about the challenges of sticking up to new routines and habits, how can we navigate through that? This is when we get to witness the power of micro-practices that over time compound with their results. By having a strong set of principles on how you want to build your physical and mental body over time, we can set out to break these principles down into the smallest possible acts of habits. The load of mental resistance reduces on these micro-habits by the simplicity and ease of their nature which ensures that it is easily implemented and followed through.