Navigating Mixed Signals in the Observable Matrix

Simplify the noise by understanding our deepest human need

💡Level Up: The Answer

A fun definition to start, because - why not? Clarity matters :).

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The observable matrix /ði əbˈzɝːvəbəl ˈmeɪtrɪks/

The rules & patterns of the reality in which we operate, based on information that is available or can be reasonably inferred or deducted

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Last week, I shared how limited mental energy plays a role in our tendency to reach for patterns and create meaning out of information.

But signals can sometimes be overwhelming and vast. It can be difficult to identify common driving factors, or even recognize when a signal is no longer reliable. One moment, your picture of “what’s working” may seem complete. The next, the story no longer makes sense. How do you identify such deviances sooner? How do you pivot when you become stuck?

A story of mixed signals

When I was starting out my career, I felt a strong pull towards actions that others would consider “impulsive,” “rebellious” or even, if generous, “independent minded.”

For example, I remember once taking a spur of the moment weekend trip from Los Angeles to Madrid with a co-worker. While fun to talk about, I remember this experience only because of how I felt, walking into the solace of my hotel room after a nearly 12-hour flight.

Trapped.

How could this be? I had traveled across the world to escape this feeling. As I made my way to the window of my room seeking reprieve, looking over a beautiful quiet cityscape - pristine and unassuming - my feelings only intensified, now sprinkled with hints of confusion and desperation.

I can’t get out.

While it would take me several more years to fully escape the prison of my mind, this moment was one that reminded me of the conflation of signals with our deeper needs. I expected my actions to help me feel a certain way, when what I needed was internal.

The necessity and risk of using signals

Most of what we learn, we learn backwards.

• We see successful people and think - “they must be doing something right.”

• We see happy people and think - “I should probably meditate more”

• We see confident people and think - “I should take more risks”

It’s no surprise.

Living in a world of asymmetrical information with a need to make sense of it all, we naturally evolve to be master correlators.

We become a mish-mash of the variables we see, hoping that the right combination may unlock the answers that we seek.

This association is not inherently a bad thing.

In fact, the tension between signals and reality is not just inescapable, but a matter of necessity. The ability to interpret signals on the path to greater knowing is how we navigate the world:

1. We need “proxy” goals and benchmarks to understand if we’re on the right track towards a larger goal

2. We need shorter term milestones to keep ourselves motivated amid noise and distraction — Author and behaviorial economist Dan Ariely really hammered this concept home for me. Here’s a must-watch: Start at 7:16.

3. With our limited mental energy, we need to form quick judgments to rationalize the unknown and, in turn, feel some semblance of control

Yet, in the midst of all this - it’s easy to forget that signals are simply...signals.

They are indirect signs of what’s really happening. Outside, inside, and within ourselves.

And because we get so used to focusing on them, we start to mistake them for the goal.

• The money for the freedom.

• The external freedom for the internal freedom.

• The proxy for the outcome.

• The process for the purpose.

Getting to the need behind the signals

Being aware of this natural conflation is step 1. It allows us to zoom out and regularly ask ourselves whether the actions we’re taking along the path are still in service of our higher goals (or simply an outdated signal we once defined in the past).

While sometimes the answer is obvious, in others, pivoting can be...challenging. Where does one look if one’s signal is no longer working? Where does one turn when we’ve tried multiple paths to no avail? What does freedom even mean, in its truest form? Economic freedom, time freedom... spiritual freedom?

When it becomes difficult to parse the deeper connecting story from the observable matrix, it may be prudent to ask a more fundamental question.

What is the root of everything we do?

What is “that” which we are searching for?

What are we seeking most deeply - conscious or subconsciously?

To get here, we often to have to scale up our pyramid backwards, going up multiple “why’s” to access the deeper why.

Let’s take pressure as a starting point.

Pressure is typically looked at through the lens of performance.

In some cases, pressure is a net positive. It creates a sense of urgency, helps us activate our mind’s cognitive processes, releases reward-driven dopamine, and gives us an anchor point that allows us to land further than we would have otherwise landed.

In some cases, pressure is a net negative. It frazzles our nerves, causes overstimulation, or stirs up excessive fear disproportionate for the situation at hand — and consequently, yields poor decisions.

For the goal of performance, we can see that pressure is neither inherently bad or good, but rather, an effective tool for performance if leveraged correctly. It’s a conditional signal, not to be confused for performance itself. Why are we still applying pressure? Is it still serving the goal of performance? Asking these questions will help us ensure that we’re applying the tool effectively.

But let us zoom out 1 notch further.

We started talking about pressure as a tool for performance. But why do we seek to perform? Success, of course, but why success? Why do we want to succeed?

At this point, regardless of our how we present externally, internally our reasons may be very different.

One reason may be a passion for the work. Another may be for recognition.

All of these desires are fine really. The only issue is if these desires are actually masking a deeper, more fundamental need. If it is, the inaccuracy of your signals will become obvious over time. Your tools won’t work. You’ll always be so close, but so far. Full, but never whole.  

There are many ways we could describe this fundamental need, but for now perhaps we refer to it as the human need to feel deeply and unconditionally seen. One might describe the actualization of this as inner peace. Or maybe “higher consciousness.”

There is no end or beginning to this need because it is unconditional. The more you seek it, the less you’ll have it. And the more distracted you’ll be.

It’s not easy, but once we are able to fully internalize this concept, we can stop letting fear secretly drive our decisions. From a clear, non-judgmental state of mind, we finally have the headspace to pay attention to the right signals. What gets us excited even when we’re not trying to be? What are we gravitating towards?  

Worried you’ve been going in the wrong direction for awhile now? Don’t worry, you’re further along than you think. In fact, regardless of how many “wrong” moves you’ve made, look closely and you’ll see clues of a larger guiding force. There is mostly likely a common thread pulling you forward, even if it’s not apparent to you yet. (It’s hard to suppress oneself entirely!)

Once you unlock inner clarity, you will be 100x closer to where you want to be simply through awareness. You will be able to more easily recognize when you’re making decisions driven by fear/scarcity, and choose otherwise. You’ll be able to see through the noise to signals that really matter.

Everything you’ve done in your life up until this point has been to prepare you for this very moment.

Welcome to Level 380. Your game is waiting.