Nature is cyclical, while people remain goal oriented.

As mobile organisms with a narrative based culture, we assume time to be the point of the present, moving past to future, but it is change, turning future to past. Tomorrow becomes yesterday, because the earth turns.

There is no literal dimension of time, because the past is consumed by the present, in order to inform and drive it, aka, causality and conservation of energy.

Time is an effect, like temperature, pressure and color.

So process is linear and goal oriented, like the earth is only flat locally. It is more the thermodynamic feedback loops, than the passage of time.

The process, as energy, goes past to future, while the patterns generated go future to past.

As the products go start to finish, while the production line goes the other way, consuming material and expelling product.

Or consciousness goes past to future, while thoughts go future to past.

The feedback being that the patterns define and thus direct the process.

Yet fluctuations occur, as the future can be as much reaction to the past, as continuation of it. Positive feedback versus negative feedback.

The energy can break the system as well as propel it.

Which sets up a cyclical process, as systems expand within their environment, selecting for complexity and specialization, until disruption occurs and then it selects for adaptability and luck.

One attribute of adaptability is being a generalist. Though this can detract from being a specialist, it makes a good hobby to practice. To understand the broader networks.

As these mobile organisms, our thought process fluctuates between perception and judgement, in order to navigate our environment. Though if we can limit the tendency to judge, to when it is necessary, we are able to devote more energy to perception. Like being the passenger, rather than the driver. Ultimately the most we can do is perceive. Our reach will always exceed our grasp.

Consider that efficiency is to do more with less, so the ideal of efficiency would be to do everything with nothing. Obviously the negative feedback kicks in before that goal can be achieved.

Understanding is knowing the network, even to the point of not prioritizing your particular node. A cell in the body. And the body a cell in its environment.

The ultimate body is the planet and if humanity is an evolving central nervous system to this body, its function cannot be to predate on the body, nor simply navel gazing, but securing the health and welfare of the entire organism.

If not, we are simply reaching the edge of the petri dish.