Episode 76: Order and Chaos?

Order and Chaos: The Internal Battle We All Face

Lately, I’ve been diving into 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, and one of the ideas that really stood out to me is the concept of order and chaos—not just in the world but within ourselves. We often think of these as external forces, but they exist internally in a constant battle, shaping our thoughts, actions, and resistance to change.

1. You Have Both Good and Evil Inside You

History shows that all humans are capable of both great good and terrible evil. From wars to genocides, human nature has demonstrated its darkest sides—but this same nature has also driven acts of courage, protection, and resilience. This duality exists within all of us.

• This is not about excusing evil but recognizing that we all have the potential for both.
• Even the kindest, most compassionate people—Gandhi, Mother Teresa—still had this inner chaos.
• Suppressing or denying this darkness doesn’t eliminate it; acceptance is the key.

2. The Internal Struggle is Constant

Every day, we experience this internal battle:

• Order: The disciplined side, the part that wants to do the right thing.
• Chaos: The part that resists, that makes excuses, that tempts us toward comfort and avoidance.

This battle manifests in simple ways:

• Waking up early vs. hitting snooze
• Exercising vs. staying on the couch
• Taking action vs. procrastinating

For years, I tried to suppress the chaos, thinking I could eliminate it completely. Then I tried to change it, thinking that if I built good habits for long enough, the resistance would disappear. Neither approach worked. The realization I had is this:

🚨 You can never fully eliminate chaos. It will always be there.

3. Stop Trying to ‘Fix’ Yourself—Accept Instead

• Most self-help solutions imply that once you “fix” yourself, your struggles will disappear.
• That’s not true. Even after mastering habits, discipline, or mental toughness, resistance still exists.
• Instead of seeing this as failure, embrace the reality: You will always have order and chaos inside of you.

This helped me let go of the frustration of trying to “win” against chaos. Instead, I now see it as something I will always have to work with, not against.

4. Identity and Duality: You Are Always Both

• Every time you choose an identity, you also accept its opposite.
• If you call yourself a “writer,” you also acknowledge the possibility of not writing.
• If you commit to a disciplined life, you also acknowledge the pull toward chaos.

This isn’t a bad thing—it’s just the way it is. You are always both order and chaos.

5. Letting Go vs. Acceptance

Some philosophies, like Letting Go by David Hawkins, argue that you should release all negative energy and eventually transcend it. But now, I disagree.

• The chaos doesn’t go away—you just become better at managing it.
• You don’t “rise above” bad habits, emotions, or resistance; you just become more aware of them and build systems to counteract them.
• Instead of fighting your dark side, acknowledge it, respect it, and choose order despite its presence.

6. The Source of Thoughts and Emotions

Ever get random negative thoughts or emotions and wonder Where did that even come from?

• Those are just chaos bubbling up.
• Your mind is a mix of genetics, past experiences, and human nature—constantly shifting between order and chaos.
• Instead of reacting, just recognize it: “Ah, that’s just the chaos talking again.”

7. Final Thoughts: The Balance is the Key

• You are both good and bad, disciplined and lazy, strong and weak—and that’s okay.
• The goal isn’t to eliminate chaos but to learn how to balance it with order.
• Instead of resisting or suppressing, accept that these forces will always be within you, and simply choose order more often than chaos.

This realization has been a huge relief for me—knowing that I don’t have to “defeat” the chaos, just manage it. Hopefully, this helps you too.

Simplify your life. Don’t overthink things. And always do what you say you’re going to do.