Systems Thinking & The Patient Path to Joy

Stocks and flows are fundamental concepts in systems thinking and help us understand dynamic systems. 

Stocks refer to quantities that can be measured at a specific point in time. They are the accumulated results of past actions and can be thought of as the "state" of a system. Examples of stocks include the water in a reservoir, the money in a bank account, or the population of a city. Stocks are static in nature but can change over time due to inflows and outflows.

Flows represent the rates at which stocks change. They are the processes or activities that cause stocks to increase or decrease. Inflows add to stocks, while outflows reduce them. For example, the water flowing into a reservoir from a river is an inflow, and water being released from the reservoir is an outflow. Similarly, deposits and withdrawals in a bank account are inflows and outflows affecting the stock of money.

Our human minds have a curious tendency to focus more readily on stocks, that is, current states, rather than flows, the process or in- and outflows changing the stock. This inclination may stem from the immediacy and tangibility of stocks, which are easier to observe and measure, instead of the less immediately apparent or rewarding flows, which often require more effort to track and understand.

Inflow → Stock → Outflow

In the famous Marshmallow test, psychologist Walter Mischel offered children a choice between one immediate marshmallow or two if they waited. The ability to delay gratification correlates with positive life outcomes. This experiment raises a crucial question: Are we a one-marshmallow species that needs immediate gratification and focuses on the stock, impatient and non-integrative? Or are we a two-marshmallow species, aware of the time it takes for stocks to change, focusing on flows instead?

A one-marshmallow approach prioritizes narrow individual gains, often at the expense of others, creating negative externalities*. 

*Negative externalities are costs or consequences that affect parties not directly involved in an action or decision. This seemingly short-sighted win-lose scenario often turns out to be a lose-lose situation when viewed through a wider lens and over a longer time horizon. 

In the end, the PFAS or “forever chemicals” developed for profitable resistant products rain down on everyone, including the companies that made them. We're all on the same boat. (Or Sam Altman’s “AI is going to be the best or worst thing ever for humanity. We're most likely going to die, but we'll build some profitable companies in the meantime.”)

In contrast, a two-marshmallow species focuses on collective and real progress rather than immediate individual gains. This approach considers the full spectrum of consequences, taking a wide-angle view and considering longer time horizons. 

The relationship between stocks and flows is further complicated by their different temporal characteristics. Flows can be adjusted abruptly, but stocks take time to change as flows accumulate or deplete over time. The one-child policy in China serves as a stark illustration of this principle. The policy abruptly altered the flow of population growth, but its full impact on the stock (total population) took generations to manifest. This led to unforeseen consequences, including the current challenge of underpopulation, demonstrating how rapid changes in flow can lead to long-term, sometimes problematic, shifts in stock.

This interplay between stocks and flows extends beyond societal issues to our personal lives, particularly in our pursuit of happiness, consciousness, and joy. We often fixate on our current "stock" of happiness, growing impatient to change it once we become aware of its state. However, this approach overlooks the long history of "flows" that have shaped our current state of being.

Expanding on the process of finding Joy, it's crucial to shift our focus from the end state (stock) to the journey (flow). By acknowledging the time and intentional efforts required to reach our current state, we can cultivate patience, kindness, and grace towards ourselves as we work towards personal growth and fulfillment.

Embracing this process-oriented mindset allows us to immerse ourselves in the flow of personal development. Rather than anxiously monitoring our "happiness stock," we can engage fully in activities and practices that contribute positively to our well-being. This might include cultivating meaningful relationships, pursuing passions, practicing mindfulness, or contributing to our communities.

As we immerse ourselves in this process-oriented mindset, we may find that our initial goals begin to evolve or even fade from our immediate consciousness. This shift is not a sign of failure but rather an indication of genuine growth and transformation. We may one day realize that we have arrived at a new state of being, one that surpasses our original aspirations.

By understanding the dynamics of stocks and flows in systems thinking and applying this knowledge to our personal growth, we can cultivate a more patient, compassionate, and effective approach to finding joy and fulfillment. 

In that sense, “embrace the flow”, trust in the process of gradual change, and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised by the stocks of happiness and wholeness accumulated along the way.