Today’s letter was prompted by a reader that sent me a letter last night. The question is simple:
Is there such a thing as TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it)?
Yes. The system we are part of is in decline. We can all feel, see, and smell it….
All of the major trend lines — economic, social, political, financial, environmental, etc. — support this conclusion.
NOTE: I’m optimistic things will eventually get better as we become more resilient. Our historical experience with prior declines and the evidence I’m accumulating suggests that a new, re-localized system will rise quickly to replace it. The trick is to become part of that new, rising system as early as is practicable.
In the meantime, the decline of the tired, corrupted global system most of us are dependent on is in the foreground, and its decline naturally causes anxiety.
Unfortunately, this anxiety has led some people to assume that there will be a simple, apocalyptic end point.
There won’t be. Real life isn’t Hollywood.
No zombies. No perpetual global blackout due to a massive solar flare. No pandemic that kills 99.99% of the population. No nuclear war/winter. No alien invasion.
Nothing that looks like this picture:
So, if the current system is failing, what will it look like?
A lot like today, but worse. A debased version of what we grew up in punctuated by extreme events.
Here’s an example.
In the US, we saw a 1.5% drop in the median income last year. A drop that was on top of decades of economic failure. It’s so bad, we’re now passing (on the way down) by levels of household wealth and income we last saw in the late seventies! We aren’t alone, Japan and much Europe is experiencing the same thing right now.
Here’s another example.
Global climate change is now inevitable, based on things we did decades ago and a complete failure of our political system to do anything about what is going on right now. It’s coming and we’re seeing ever increasing extremes in our weather (like this off the charts drought in Texas and the new Dust Bowl that is forming there).
I could go on and on, but suffice to say: the anxiety we feel is real, but the process driving us there is slow, even though we may see occasional spikes on the way. Like what? The 2008 financial crash or Greek/Spain/Ireland defaults or massive droughts/fires/storms.
So, the big question is how do you avoid getting sucked into this decline?
It’s simple. Use a balanced and incremental approach. Avoid extremes, they are exhausting.
A balanced and incremental approach to becoming resilient will keep you, your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, and your neighbors both happy and prosperous with every step forwards.
One final thought. It’s important to remember that this transition period is a long game that will take decades to play out. It’s not a hand of poker or Russian roulette. It won’t be settled in an afternoon or over tea.
A long game requires a balancing act to win.
Sincerely,
JOHN ROBB
PS: How do you pull this off this balancing act? What do I do right now? This is what my new premium service will cover. Hope you will join me when I launch it this month.
