Entropy

[5ft Diva]

The information below was given by Rusty Lindquist; I don't know where or when. It was sent to me in an e-mail from my SIL. I liked it and wanted to share it w/ all of you.

Entropy: It’s a concept that describes the natural deterioration of order. It’s a process of degeneration that begins almost instantly, in almost everything.
Buy something new and almost instantly it begins to show signs of being used (at least if you live in my house, with 6 kids). Learn a whole bunch of things and pretty soon you’ve forgotten most of what you learned.

Sit down and try some algebra… that’s entropy. Go look at your kid’s bedrooms… that’s entropy. Stop exercising for a few weeks and then go weigh yourself… that’s entropy. Watch the news for an hour… that’s entropy. Read the Book of Mormon about the rise and fall of great nations… that’s entropy. Ever heard of a missionary that returned and fell away… that’s entropy.

It’s a simple concept really. Any system tends to lose order, or energy, and will continue to do so until there is none left. That is unless there is a constant, steady, reliable, and deliberate stream of energy being put back into the system to maintain its order.

Our own ongoing spirituality is no different - it’s subject to entropy. The moment you stop inputting into the system, spiritual deterioration begins.
That’s the reason why repetition of some of the smallest, most simple things can end up being the most important. Small things like meaningful daily prayer, diligent daily scripture study, weekly church attendance, bi-annual general conferences, etc.
Their cumulative effect is what staves off the entropy that would otherwise engulf us.

Hence, through small and simple things are great things brought to pass.
When you read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church, and partake of the sacrament or work regularly to do good deeds - all of these things build up a spiritual buffer against the adversary. But then every day you venture into the world to face more of his buffetings, his “shafts in the whirlwind”. You face sin and temptation, sorrow and adversity, which weighs you down and wears away the spiritual buffer you’ve worked so hard to create.

Entropy is when you ease back, it’s when you decide “it doesn’t matter” or “I can let it slip for a day”, it’s when you stop inputting into the system. It leaves you without the armor of God, and Satan, who doesn’t rest, is left with all the opportunity he needs.
Spiritual entropy is one of the strongest tools Satan has in his employ. All he has to do… is nothing. Just wait… which is why, again, it’s through the diligent, deliberate, and constant repetition of the simplest things that in the end may make the biggest difference.

[natickgirl]

I like to think of being on an escalator. We have to constantly put forth effort just to stay where we are. As soon as we stop (exercising, reading scriptures, regularly cleaning) we begin to backslide. Thus, we have to maintain daily effort. If we want to PROGRESS, we have to put forth a little more effort than just the minimum...

[Meticulous madness]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[5ft Diva]

Originally Posted by natickgirl

I like to think of being on an escalator. We have to constantly put forth effort just to stay where we are. As soon as we stop (exercising, reading scriptures, regularly cleaning) we begin to backslide. Thus, we have to maintain daily effort. If we want to PROGRESS, we have to put forth a little more effort than just the minimum...

I totally agree. But how does one master this? Do you know the secret?

[Erudite]

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." -Aristotle

This is what I thought of when reading the above. The secret must be in creating the HABIT. It can't be the act of reading the scriptures daily, but the habit of DILIGENTLY and deeply studying, so much so that we recognize when we have only read as opposed to studied. It can't be the act of "saying prayers", but the habit of conversing with Heavenly Father whenever and for whatever. We need our habits to reflect our continued efforts to create new knowledge and abilities within us, and thus we do not allow entropy to occur.

This is SUCH a good topic! But do you notice it is somewhat echoed in some of the other topics we are discussing right now? Procrastination or use of "down" time...they're all kinda the same thing.

[5ft Diva]

In order to create a habit you have to have a plan in order to have an effective plan you have execute the details of that plan. I believe the secret to creating a habit is the ability to execute your plan. So I got to thinking that it's probably not helpful to talk about what causes us to procrastinate and why we procrastinate and what happens when we procrastinate, thus, focusing on the entropy in our lives. Anyway, what if we were to focus on methods to execute our goals. Wouldn't that then focus on order?

What do you think of this idea?

[Erudite]

Well...I'd have to say that the habit formation you describe is for GOOD and INTENTIONAL habits, and since that's what we're aiming at in overcoming entropy, it is certainly a good thing to focus there. (Though I have to point out that the procrastination challenge is not about focusing on procrastination, but about overcoming procrastination...thus overcoming entropy.)

One interesting thought...I'm really working hard on what I eat these days and have been thinking about the upward kind of climb that that is. I am creating more ordered eating habits. So as I was thinking about that, I thought...hmmm I've always let those good habits go at some point and allowed the entropy back in. How do I avoid doing that this time? Can I make it a matter of lifestyle change forever?

I don't know that I have the answer, but I've been thinking about it!

[Erudite]

I was going to create a new thread about "giving ourselves leeway", but I think the topic goes here. I've been noticing that I give myself a bit of leeway in some things (not all things) that it becomes more leeway the next day and more leeway the day after that, and the 3rd day (or so) I'm not doing the thing that I was supposed to be doing at all. That first little bit of leeway eventually leads completely away from where I intended to be.

How do we combat leeway giving?

Today, I've thought like 3 times: I need to make myself a to-do list so that I'll get something done...and what have I done all day? Message boards for the most part. Sigh. Enjoyable, but I need to get something else done too.

[5ft Diva]

Something that I have learned about myself is that I desire structure w/o rigidity (i.e., dishes at 8:00, take garbage out at 8:15).

Anyway in response to your question and in light of my personality my combat skills require a bigger picture and focus. And the biggest thing is a support group. Someone to be accountable to. I have learned that being accountable to someone is about progression and not condemnation. (NOTE: Anytime in my life when someone who was holding me accountable to something was condemning me I got out of the situation as quickly as I could and found another accountability buddy.) I am part of a group right now where we hold each other accountable for goals and commitments we have made and the things that I commit to are about the only things I get done in the month so I know a support group works exceptionally well for me.

Now, E, I can see that this might not work for you as you prefer to work by yourself. In this case, (if this idea works for you) maybe your accountability buddy is a written down statement of what you will do and when you expect to have it done by. I prefer this process because it is forgiving as it gives leeway for bad days. Pardon the pun.

[Erudite]

I don't actually "prefer" to work by myself. It's just that no one else ever seems to want to come on the ride I'm on at the moment, so...from long practice...I drive forward alone. It's not very fun, but it is useful in that I can adjust according to my own perceptions and revelations. I am SO adult deprived. Can you hear it?

Anyway, I liked how you put that "structure without rigidity". That describes my goals too. My goals are structured, but not rigid...and I think sometimes the lack of rigidity is what lets me off the hook in them. So, I'm trying to add just tiny bit more structure to them. For example, I missed reading my scriptures because I let it go until the end of the day and then it didn't get done. So this morning, I got up and read them first thing before I even left my bedroom. It's nice to do that in the quiet of the morning before the kids are awake. Making it the first thing I do gives me more structure and a bit of rigidity.

[5ft Diva]

Ahhhh, that makes sense actually. Okay, prefer was not a good word. And I totally get the adult deprived concept. I just sent out an e-mail to my whole R.S. inviting them to my house on Tuesday because I'm starved socially. BS thinks I'm nuts.

Anywho, would it be safe to say that a way for combating entropy for you is just getting your stuff done right away? Just soundboarding.

[Erudite]

Yeah, that's totally true. I feel better about things if I've clearly crossed something off my list and I know what I'm supposed to do next...even if I choose to do something else. I feel like I have choices in what I do if I have a list to choose from, but if I don't have a list, I'm just sure (in the stupidest way) that my life is going to pieces and I have nothing of value to do. I SO need a list!

I called my sister today to talk to another adult and this sister "kicked me in the pants" so I would stop feeling so sorry for myself. She also suggested setting up opportunities that give me adult interaction, so I think inviting the RS is a great idea!! (though a bit more than I'd want to take on just now). I'd like to hear how it goes though. Is it just an all day, drop by when you want to thing?

What I did do is add to my computer calendar the daily reminder to study my scriptures and to work on my "extra-curricular" project, so that I'm not spinning my wheels doing nothing of value every day. I also added a weekly note to call an adult. I am clearly not the only one feeling like a social slug (in the sense that you sit quietly in your own space wondering why it doesn't seem like so much fun). I feel a bit rejected as far as attempting to involve myself in other adult things, because I have tried and they don't work...at least of the variety that I know about around here, so I'm gun-shy to do it at all. Yep, I'm a wimp.

[5ft Diva]

Well, I invited the whole R.S. out w/ the hopes that many will come, but know that I might only hear from three or four tops so it's not like this is really a huge thing. My point was that it was my way of reaching out. If you can't go to the people, bring the people to you...

[5ft Diva]

I was thinking a little more about this the other day and another tool that helps me is having a deadline. I'm really good about starting goals/programs and not that great about finishing them. Not because I don't want to finish my goals but my guess is its because there's loss of momentum and direction. Having a deadline helps me stay on the "straight and narrow" path. Anyway, I realized the other day that another common thread in my life that causes entropy is not having deadlines or rather a lack of the complete vision.

[Erudite]

Deadlines sometimes help me and sometimes I just feel like pushing them to the max. Bad attitude I know, but I need the internal DO IT to meet a deadline for the most part.

[5ft Diva]

Well, actually maybe I don't need to pick just one. I wrote a thread up a while ago about working on different goals at the same time. This would fit into this category. The more I think about this, E, the more I like it and feel like its a method that can help me wrap my head around the idea of multiple goals. Don't know if that makes any sense.