Behind the Scenes of “Dancing”: The More and the Bigger, the Better « Dancing Our Way

Behind the Scenes of “Dancing”: The More and the Bigger, the Better

21/09/2024 | carlosgoga | dancing our way, English | No hay comentarios

There’s a narrative that has quietly, yet powerfully, conditioned much of our collective behavior for centuries. It’s the story that tells us “the more you have, and the bigger you are, the better you become.” This mantra isn’t new—it’s been around for as long as humans have sought survival and security. But today, this same narrative has embedded itself at the heart of our capitalist culture, driving an obsession with endless growth, profit maximization, and the pursuit of «bigger and better» in every aspect of our lives.

At one time, this narrative made sense. In an age of scarcity, where resources were limited and survival was uncertain, striving for more was a reasonable approach. The individual’s focus was on accumulating enough to ensure personal security and survival. It was a mindset shaped by necessity—when having more meant safeguarding oneself and one’s family against the harsh realities of life. However, as we’ve transitioned into an era of relative abundance, the narrative of endless accumulation has not only persisted, it has intensified. We continue to live as though we are in a perpetual state of scarcity, even though the world around us has fundamentally changed.

My personal reflection regarding «Scarcity to Abundance» across generations

My own personal journey helps illustrate how this narrative has evolved and persisted across generations. My father was born in 1940 in Spain, just after the civil war—a time of real scarcity, where every day was a struggle to survive. I was born in 1968, during the tail end of the dictatorship, as Spain re-emerged onto the international stage. It was a time of cautious optimism, with the country on the brink of significant social and economic transformation. And then my son was born in 2000, at a time when Spain was once again a leading Western nation, experiencing real abundance.

With my father, life was genuinely difficult, and the common message he received growing up was, “Your life will be hard, and you will have to work relentlessly.” By the time I entered the world, people should have said to me, “You’re lucky, things are getting better, and life will be easier.” When my son was born, the message should have evolved into, “Congratulations! You are born into an era of abundance, where things are already built, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy life.”

And yet, despite the context of abundance, the reality hasn’t followed these expectations. The same messaging of “Your life will be hard, and you will have to work relentlessly” is all around. My son, like many in his generation, is struggling to find his professional place in a world that promised more ease but delivers more difficulty and more confusion. The mantra of “the more and the bigger, the better” has pushed him, like many young people, toward some form of survival entrepreneurship—not as an exciting opportunity, but as a necessity. He’s being asked to invent a new job for himself in an economy where everything needed is done, and where traditional jobs have been overtaken by the very corporations that have grown too large to let some space for him. Instead of inheriting the fruits of abundance, he is forced into a system that demands that he creates something entirely new, once again responding to the relentless drive for more.

The unbalanced reality of capitalism: corporations, governments, and public service

In this time of abundance, the appropriate proposal should no longer be “save yourself,” but rather “share with others”. Yet, we see that the narrative of “the more and the bigger, the better” has carried over, driving the behavior of corporations, governments, and individuals alike. Instead of recognizing the opportunity to build a more equitable and connected world, we continue to feed into a system that thrives accumulation for its own sake, turning profit and growth into end goals, rather than means to a healthier, more balanced society.

Corporations have grown to an unprecedented size, creating an unbalanced economy where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals are struggling to find their way forward. The overwhelming dominance of a few enormous corporations is making it nearly impossible for smaller players to compete, innovate, or thrive. If so happens, then corporations opens its deep pockets and swallows them through the magic of their merger and acquisition’s jargon, forcing the successful survivor into bigger is better. This ever-growing gap between the giants and the rest of society is creating a kind of imbalance that echoes the mantra in painful ways—causing smaller entities to be edged out, while the rest of us grapple with the power dynamics these large corporations wield over our everyday lives.

The same narrative of accumulation and expansion has crept into the very fabric of our governments. Over time, we have accumulated so many laws, regulations, and bureaucratic layers that it seems almost impossible for anyone to fully understand how the system works, let alone remain entirely «legal.» The system has grown so complex that even those tasked with administering it struggle to keep pace. The weight of endless regulation is suffocating, and the complexity of modern governance has reached a point where human beings feel powerless to streamline or reform it. The system appears so entangled in its own processes that genuine reform seems like an insurmountable challenge.

Moreover, the size of the public sector—especially the sheer volume of public servants—has become another obstacle. In many countries, any attempt to streamline old bureaucracies, introduce digital transformation strategies, or drive efficiency is met with resistance from a system that has become too large and too entrenched in its ways. Public institutions have become so vast and inert that they resist any efforts to become more agile, efficient, or responsive to the needs of the modern world. Once again, the mantra of more—more regulations, more departments, more complexity—has created an unbalanced system that is increasingly difficult to change.

“Too big to fall” was repeated once and again during the very first economic crisis in this 21^st century to justify the saving of banks and financial institutions that went out of control. Nowadays, this “too big to fall” looks like is the best characterization of almost all corporate life.

The rise of Big Tech: a new breed of growth-obsessed giants

Big Tech has taken this old mantra to an entirely new level. With metrics like market capitalization or cash at hand that dwarf even some of the largest economies, these companies have grown so powerful and expansive that even governments and entire countries are struggling to find their legitimate space in relation to them. Big Tech’s ability to influence markets, economies, politics, and even social behaviors has blurred the lines between private enterprise and public governance.

This unchecked growth is creating a world where not even governments can push back effectively. Whether it’s Microsoft’s global web of software, Amazon’s logistical empire, Google’s information dominance, or Facebook’s social connectivity, these companies’ grip on global infrastructure is undeniable. And yet, their hunger for growth shows no sign of slowing. The pace and scale at which they operate have created a situation where bigger and faster are driving forces that no country, regulator, or international body seems able to control.

Scaling Laws and the cost of speed: the price of uncontrolled growth

In this environment, the old mantra has morphed into what tech leaders call scaling laws. These are the principles that guide how Big Tech companies are expanding exponentially, scaling their operations, products, and services across borders, industries, and demographics. But these scaling laws come with enormous costs. We are now facing the likelihood that huge mega-datacenters will emerge that consume vast amounts of electricity—so much so that it will become a challenge for the rest of society to manage energy needs and environmental impacts.

Moreover, the speed at which Big Tech is driving innovation and growth is creating extreme pressure. The fast pace of technological advancements, from AI to cloud computing, has led to widespread calls for a slowdown. Many are asking for a pause in certain developments so that society can adapt, risks can be managed, and the unintended consequences of these advancements can be properly understood. There’s a growing recognition that while scaling is critical for these companies’ business models, the rapid expansion of technology—unchecked and unmanaged—poses serious risks to the rest of us, including the environment, society, and governance.

The mantra in human geography: from villages to megacities

This narrative of “the bigger, the better” has also profoundly influenced human geography, shaping how and where we live. Over the past centuries, we have witnessed a steady migration of people from small villages to towns, then to cities, and now to megacities. This concentration of human populations into ever-larger urban centers is often seen as a marker of progress and development. Yet, the price we are paying for this concentration is enormous.

Big cities are largely artificial constructs, often detached from the natural cycles that sustain life. In these urban environments, we are cut off from nature’s rhythms, disconnected from the processes that govern our ecosystems, and alienated from the earth itself. Cities offer economic opportunities, but they also isolate us from the very things that nourish and balance us—fresh air, open space, green landscapes, and the quiet of the natural world. In the name of growth and expansion, we have built environments that push us further away from our need to connect with nature, and in doing so, we risk losing our grounding in the larger processes that govern life on this planet.

The massification of tourism is yet another example of how the mantra of “more” has permeated every scale of our lives. Once seen as a way to foster cultural exchange and support local economies, tourism has now ballooned into a force that is destroying the very cities and cultures it seeks to showcase. The relentless growth in tourism numbers has overwhelmed many cities around the world, turning once-thriving local communities into crowded, over-commercialized hubs where the local way of life is being eroded.

Instead of fostering mutual appreciation and understanding, mass tourism is pushing people further apart, reducing local cultures to mere commodities. As cities are transformed to cater to the constant flow of tourists, their authenticity and character are being lost. We need to rethink the purpose and scale of tourism trapped in “the more, the better”, especially in a world that can no longer afford to sacrifice its cultural and environmental heritage for the sake of unchecked growth.

When the price is exclusion, radicalization, and extremism

This narrative not only impacts our collective economic and political life but also permeating institutions and movements in the social realm, particularly those that have already accomplished much of their original purpose but now resist pause or reflection. When the mantra of “more and bigger” fills these spaces, it often leads to exclusion, radicalization, and even extremism.

We are currently witnessing this phenomenon in various movements. Take ecologism, for example. While the environmental movement has achieved significant progress in raising awareness and pushing for sustainable practices and alleviation of climate change, it has also given rise to extremes like radical veganism, where those who eat meat are labeled as “assassins,” or radical animalism, which sometimes elevates the value of animals above that of humans. This radicalism sometimes foster a narrative where humans are seen as a cancer to the planet, a harmful and reductive view that only increases division and hostility, rather than fostering mutual understanding and cooperative solutions.

Similarly, the feminist and gender movements have made enormous strides toward equality, but some of their more radical fringes now promote the idea that masculinity itself is inherently harmful, and that men, by default, are part of the problem. This has led to a backlash, deepening gender divides, making it difficult to engage in productive conversations about equality and cooperation, and even pushing out of society a new generation of “human males”.

The difficulty of questioning the mantra: from fanaticism to polarization

This mantra of “the more and the bigger, the better” has permeated so deeply into our collective and individual psyches that our «automatic pilot» behaviors are built on top of it and the simple raising the question of whether there might be alternatives is met with resistance, hostility, dismissal or “cancelation”. To simply suggest that we explore different ways of living, working, or organizing society is frequently interpreted as an offense to our life style or the status quo. Those who dare to question the relentless drive for more are quickly labeled as “anti-system,” “degrowth fanatics,” or “utopian dreamers.”

The importance of managing «the narrative game» positively cannot be overstated. If we continue to frame the conversation as a binary choice between endless growth or chaos, we only deepen the polarization that already exists. We must create space for a more nuanced dialogue—one that allows for the exploration of alternatives without condemning those who raise these questions as radicals. This is not about rejecting progress or embracing scarcity; it is about finding balance and understanding that more is not always better.

History has shown us how easily narratives can become dogma. When movements or institutions cling too tightly to their original purpose without adapting to changing times, they can become exclusionary and radicalized. Perhaps we should remember what happened when early Christianity narrowed into Catholicism and reached the point of excluding entire groups of people—whether for being “heretics” or for embracing different approaches to life, like the so-called “witches.” The push for purity and control, once it becomes extreme, inevitably leads to violence on top of exclusion and division, and we seem to be repeating this same pattern in today’s institutions and movements.

Revisiting Aristotle’s approach to mediocrity

The Greek philosopher Aristotle had a different view of success and fulfillment. In his ethical philosophy, he spoke of the golden mean—the virtuous path of moderation that lies between extremes. Aristotle understood that true happiness and virtue come not from excess or deficiency but from finding the balance between the two. This idea of moderation is an important antidote to the narrative of endless growth and accumulation. It reminds us that more is not always better, and that in many cases, the path of balance and sufficiency is the most virtuous approach.

Feeding what we want to grow

In the midst of all this complexity, there is a simple yet powerful principle we can apply to our everyday lives: “Feed what you want to grow, and stop feeding what you do not want to grow.” This rule can guide our choices, whether we are nurturing relationships, building communities, or contributing to larger systems. By consciously choosing where we place our energy, resources, and attention, we can begin to shift the narrative toward one that supports balance, sustainability, and collective well-being.

That said, feeding what you want to grow is a personal choice that should be mutually respected. Just as we wish to feed what matters to us, we must allow others to feed what matters to them, as long as it doesn’t harm. This creates a constructive environment, where the competition is not for destruction but for building—a competition of creation where diverse values and perspectives can coexist.

Gratitude: saying “It’s Enough”

Another essential step in breaking free from this endless pursuit of more is entering into a state of gratitude. By embracing gratitude, we can finally say, “It is enough. Thank you for making it possible up to here.” Gratitude allows us to pause, reflect, and appreciate what we have—rather than constantly seeking more. It helps us recognize that we do not need to accumulate endlessly to find meaning or fulfillment. In a world of abundance, gratitude can be the key to shifting our focus from having more to being more.

Gratitude naturally brings with it a sense of celebration. By stopping to celebrate the journey, we honor everything that has been achieved, acknowledge that we have enough, and invite a more joyful relationship with both ourselves and the world around us.

The limits of more: when “More” becomes “Less”

It is crucial to recognize that there is a limit to how much more we can pursue before “more” begins to create “less.” While this concept may be difficult to accept in a society driven by accumulation, it becomes much clearer when we consider that “more of the unimportant will become less of the important.”

This principle invites us to assess our lives and choices through «the 360º lens of impact». Are we feeding what is truly important? Are we aligning our energy and actions with the things that matter, not just to ourselves but to the broader scales of society, from the personal (nano) level to the global (mundo) scale? Are we choosing more of the unimportant at the price of having less of what it is actually important for us? Every moment in life is an opportunity to reflect on the impacts we are responsible for, and to recognize when it is time to pause, redirect, or even stop.

A special Call to Action: rewriting our narratives for an AI-Powered world of abundance

As we move forward into the age of AI, we must confront the promises and challenges it presents. AI has the potential to create a world of even greater, seemingly unlimited abundance—one where the constraints of scarcity that once defined our lives may no longer apply. However, with this abundance comes a responsibility to re-examine and update the narratives that have been shaped by a scarcity mindset.

The old mantra of “the more you have, the better you become” has long driven our behavior, but it no longer serves us in a world where abundance is possible. Instead, we need new narratives that are fitted for this new era—narratives that reflect the reality of our interconnectedness and the possibilities AI brings. Perhaps the new mantra should be “the more you share, the better you feel”—a shift that moves us from competition and accumulation to collaboration and generosity.

It is our job, as humans, to accommodate this shift. We must recognize that the limits we face are no longer material but psychological and ethical. The transition to an AI-powered world of abundance requires us to be more mindful of our impacts at every scale—from the personal to the global. It invites us to embrace new stories that are not built on fear of scarcity but on the opportunity for shared prosperity.

Ultimately, this is about reframing our relationship with growth, success, and one another. We are at a pivotal moment where the tools and technologies we are creating can either deepen the divisions and suffering of the past or open the door to a more compassionate and abundant future. The choice is ours, and it begins with the narratives we choose to tell ourselves—and each other.

A neutral proposal to avoid polarization

As the author of Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness, my aim is to offer a neutral, open framework that invites both individual and collective reflection. I hope to challenge the obsolete narratives that have been conditioning us for too long, without polarizing or condemning those who are entrenched in the current system. Mine is not a call for revolution, but for evolution. I want to highlight the importance of positive impact, both at an individual and societal scale, while avoiding the traps of division and extremism.

By reframing our goals and priorities, we can begin to move away from the toxic effects of more and bigger. We can refocus on what truly matters—on the health of our relationships, the balance of our lives, and the sustainability of our world. My hope is that the book serves as a guide for navigating this journey with openness, curiosity, and a commitment to positive change.

PD: If you feel to keep exploring about this post openly, the following podcast comments on it. The podcast is an AI podcast created using NotebookLM by Google.