Many of us may have been aware through TV, websites and even movies, of the Mayan prophecy about the world ending in 2012. Well, thanks to an apparent error in converting the Mayan calendar, this has been postponed.
However, the Mayans do have a disturbing message for us still. They tell us why, despite our best efforts, we are unable to solve our personal or societal problems.
There are as many theories attempting to explain why the Mayans’ astoundingly advanced civilisation suddenly collapsed between 750 and 850, as there are theories for the world’s end. These theories suggest that it may be due to drought, disease or war, but there is one unusual theory that suggests the possibility that Mayans had reached their “cognitive threshold”. This theory suggests that they had created a society so complex that it surpassed their brains’ capacity to understand it, which in turn meant they were no longer able to think up credible solutions to their problems.
Due to evolutions slow progress, our evolved cognitive capacity today is very much the same as it was in 850, but our society is vastly more complex. The human brain takes millions of years to evolve a new ability, while humankind are constantly generating huge changes in society and producing vast amounts of information. So when it comes to us thinking up credible solutions to our current problem; what’s the solution to global warming, worldwide financial crises, or terrorism? The answer may simply be beyond us.
The intricacy of even everyday challenges – how to stay healthy, how to be happy in relationships or work – can seem just as equally overwhelming, even if, in principle, we have the practical abilities to solve them.
A complex problem by definition means that no one chosen solution will work; there are many more wrong solutions that right ones. The problem with attempting just one solution is that they lull us into a false sense of security, a belief that we are dealing with the problem. An example of this is to suggest that continuing to work you are helping towards a resolution of the financial crises, or by using ‘bags for life’ you are doing your bit for global warming, or because you keep an eye out for suspicious packages on the tube you are contributing to the fight against terrorism.
In fact, the only cogent way forward may be trying all solution ideas and theories at the same time, knowing that the majority are bound to fail.
Should climate change be on the agenda at the level of politics, lifestyle or technology? Should someone suffering from chronic lack of energy combat this by sleeping more, eating better or seeing a doctor? The answer would be all of these!
We can take our lead from venture capitalists who, despite all the odds being stacked against them make a fortune. The vast majority of the businesses they invest will fail, but they know that a few will thrive – even if they have no idea at the outset which ones this will be.
So, for complicated challenges, trying just one resolution and becoming distraught when it doesn’t live up to unrealistic expectations is absurd, as a solitary solution is most likely to fail. The mentality we need is not the hyped up positive-thinking approach that failure is inconceivable, but rather that failures are inevitable, but with enough solutions in our armoury we are also bound to succeed!
Best wishes,
Fr Kevin Humphrys' Blog 