A conversation on navigating the River of Creation to multiply our impact in the Universe
Have you ever felt like you were swimming against the current of life? The 0XY1 Cycle is a framework I use to work with change instead of against it. It describes how complex systems change, whether the system is a galaxy or a person.
The cosmic view
Picture the universe as a river set moving by the Big Bang. Atoms formed, then galaxies, planets, and life. All of it belongs to one continuing stream of creation.
Human civilization, with everything it has invented, is the latest stretch of that river. You are part of the universe, so you are already in the water. The question is how to move through it.
Swimming upstream
We often fight the current. We push to force outcomes, hold on to old ideas, and resist change.
That can win for a while, but it wears you out and it doesn’t last. Sooner or later the current carries you back downstream, tired and beaten.
Wu wei, action without effort
Wu wei is an old Chinese idea. It asks you to notice which way the river flows and move with it. Instead of fighting the current, you use it, and you get further with less effort.
Wu wei is effortless action, and that doesn’t make it passive. It takes attention and a deliberate choice to work with the current. The 0XY1 Cycle helps with that choice.
The 0XY1 Cycle
The cycle has four phases, and I find them in every complex system I look at, from the cosmos to a single day.
0: stasis (gathering energy)
- The system is in equilibrium and conserves energy. Nothing seems to change on the outside, but inside the system is preparing to transform.
- Example: a caterpillar in its chrysalis, living on stored energy while its body is rebuilt.
X: divergence (exploration)
- The system starts exploring. This phase is uncertain and creative, and the system tries many different paths.
- Example: a startup testing different business models.
Y: convergence (selection)
- Out of the paths it explored, the system keeps the ones that work. Natural selection does this in biology, and strategy does it in business.
- Example: an artist settling on a style after trying many techniques.
1: transformation (integration)
- The system absorbs the change, and it becomes the new normal. The cycle starts over at a higher level of complexity or efficiency.
- Example: a couple becoming parents, with their new roles as father and mother.
The cycle in your own life
To use the cycle, you have to see where it shows up in your life. Here are some examples.
Career
- Stasis (0): You are comfortable in your role but sense that a change is coming.
- Divergence (X): You learn new skills, meet people, and consider other paths.
- Convergence (Y): You narrow down to the most promising skills or openings.
- Transformation (1): You move into a new role, or the new skills become part of your work.
Relationships
- Stasis (0): You keep your current circle of friends and are content with it.
- Divergence (X): You meet new people, join clubs, and try new activities.
- Convergence (Y): You spend more time with the people who share your values and interests.
- Transformation (1): Some of those people become close friends, and a new circle forms.
Creative projects
- Stasis (0): You collect inspiration and let ideas sit.
- Divergence (X): You brainstorm and try different approaches.
- Convergence (Y): You pick the strongest ideas and refine them.
- Transformation (1): You finish the project, share it, and carry what you learned into the next one.
Multiplying your impact
The 0XY1 Cycle helps you move through complicated stretches of life on purpose, and take on hard responsibilities with courage and calm. When you align with these cycles and practice wu wei, change costs less and has more direction.
This is not passive acceptance. You are choosing to work with the flow of creation. When you face a transition or lead other people, ask which phase you are in, and let the answer shape what you do next.
The river of creation keeps moving. It carries you, and you still steer. When you steer with the current, you can do more good in the world around you.