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The Natural Order of Things: When Systems Forget Human Nature
In last week’s episode of EZ Conversations, I had the opportunity to sit down with Doug Cardell, PhD (Listen Here), who shared insights drawn from his work as an economist and mathematical modeller. Our conversation explored the challenges we see in modern economies, the growing criticism of capitalism, and the recurring claim that socialism offers a corrective—despite historical evidence to the contrary. We also unpacked how terms like socialism, democratic socialism, and communism are often used interchangeably, stripped of their actual meanings, and deployed without regard for real-world outcomes.
At one point, Dr. Cardell referenced the lyrics of Imagine to illustrate the emotional pull of utopian thinking. The vision is compelling precisely because it promises harmony without friction, equality without trade-offs, and order without sacrifice. Yet, as Dr. Cardell pointed out, such visions are not grounded in reality. They overlook a central variable: human nature itself.
He offered a metaphor that stayed with me. The economy, he suggested, is not unlike the human body—an adaptive, self-regulating system that functions best when allowed to follow its natural processes. Minimal interference does not mean neglect; it means respecting complexity. When excessive control is imposed—especially by flawed human actors susceptible to power, greed, and short-term thinking—the system becomes distorted. We see this not only in crony capitalism but also in governmental overreach, where the very attempt to engineer fairness often produces unintended harm.
As I reflected on this conversation—and on the world around me during an emotionally charged, difficult week—I found myself leaning into the natural order of things, almost serendipitously. I received news I had partly anticipated, yet still hoped would turn out differently. By temperament, I am an optimist. Letting go did not come easily.
What helped was accepting what lay beyond my control and realigning myself with what I understand as the Divine plan—what, in this context, can also be described as the natural order of things. I’ve shared before that energy is finite. When we expend it resisting reality—arguing with what is—we deplete ourselves. But when we redirect that same energy toward acceptance, something shifts. Acceptance is not resignation; it is a reorientation.
I wrote in my journal that evening: when we stop resisting and allow ourselves to be, the act of be-ing transforms into be-coming. In that surrender, we arrive—often quietly—at the next phase of growth.
Why This Matters Psychologically (and What the Research Tells Us)
What struck me afterward is how closely this idea aligns with decades of psychological research.
Acceptance-based coping, central to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), shows that psychological suffering increases not from pain itself, but from resistance to pain. Studies consistently demonstrate that acceptance—acknowledging reality without avoidance—reduces anxiety, depression, and stress while increasing psychological flexibility (Hayes et al., 2006; Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010).
Similarly, locus of control research shows that well-being improves when individuals distinguish between what they can and cannot influence. Trying to control uncontrollable outcomes is associated with learned helplessness and burnout, whereas acceptance paired with values-driven action fosters resilience (Rotter, 1966; Peterson & Seligman, 2004).
There is also compelling evidence around meaning-making. Viktor Frankl’s work, later supported by contemporary research, shows that humans thrive not when life is free of suffering, but when suffering is placed within a coherent framework of meaning. Aligning oneself with a larger order—whether understood spiritually, philosophically, or biologically—buffers against despair and promotes post-traumatic growth (Park, 2010; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004).
Even neuroscience supports this idea. Chronic resistance and rumination activate threat-based neural networks, whereas acceptance and trust in broader patterns reduce amygdala reactivity and strengthen emotion-regulation circuits in the prefrontal cortex (Hölzel et al., 2011).
Perhaps the most profound insight is this: systems—whether economic, psychological, or spiritual—break down when they are designed in defiance of human nature rather than in conversation with it. When we forget our limits, deny our imperfections, or attempt to impose order through force rather than alignment, we invite instability.
The natural order of things is not about passivity. It is about humility. It is about recognizing that growth emerges not from domination, but from cooperation—with reality, with ourselves, and with something greater than us.
And sometimes, the most profound act of strength is not pushing forward, but letting go—and trusting that what unfolds next belongs to the more profound logic of life itself.
A snippet of the Episode
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Quote of the Week:
“For those who follow nature everything is easy and straightforward, whereas for those who fight against her life is just like rowing against the stream.”
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