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I believe that every action in the world can be entirely represented using just two terms. As there isn’t any acceptable word in American English that properly carries the weight of either of these two concepts, simply ascribe that role to the letters ‘X’ and ‘Y’. Every time ‘X’ is mentioned or referred to, think of it as one of these two otherwise unnameable ideas. Apply this similarly to ‘Y’ and note that ‘X’ is not only different than ‘Y’ but is essentially the opposite.
‘X’ actions follow the pattern of adding energy into a system, thus complicating it more and giving it more potential energy, to compare it to Newtonian physics. ‘Y’ actions, as you might guess are those that follow the pattern of releasing energy from a system. I describe them as following the pattern of transferring energy one way or the other because I mean to apply this to all that qualifies under the broad term “actions.” Specifically, I mean to include political actions, interpersonal relationships, and one’s internal thought process, among many other things.

For an easy example to start out with, consider the general idea of a lazy person (or a person that is behaving in a lazy manner). That would be classified as associated with ‘Y’. How exactly it is associated with ‘Y’ can be a difficult question. In this case, one might say that laziness is motivated by ‘Y’ or is a ‘Y’-type behavior. The logic supporting this association has to do with considering the aspects of laziness. It is defined by not keeping certain commitments or following through with certain responsibilities. It requires a release of control over what is normally a heavily controlled aspect of life: one’s own schedule. It takes effort, time, and energy to create, use, and maintain a tight and efficient schedule. That is why it is associated with ‘Y’ and, conversely, an uptight and strictly scheduled pattern of behavior would be associated with ‘X’.
A straight-forward example relating to physics would be that of an electron’s energy level. An electron going from a high-energy orbit to a low-energy orbit releases energy in that action. To get it back up to a high-energy orbit requires energy to be put into the system. While the representations of energy vary from case to case, I believe that these two terms, the ‘X’ and the ‘Y’, serve their purpose effectively every time.
This notion, of course, begs the question; what is the point of viewing reality in this way? To many people, there is no point because they simply aren’t interested in this kind of thought. Some people, however, may enjoy combining it with their other beliefs regarding reality. Personally, I have a rather sparse ontology so there isn’t much to combine this concept with. Being an atheist, the only irrational belief that I have is some sense of karma. This can be explained by phrases such as you get what you pay for or treat people how you would like to be treated. To me, it’s the general notion that things work out to follow a certain form. I don’t mean to assume that some greater power is working things out this way but more that things just do work out this way due to the nature of the universe. Think of it as similar to the ying and the yang; the ‘X’ and the ‘Y’.
These two competing forces can be seen in all aspects of life. When one looks for the representations of these two forces among their personal life experiences, they can use this knowledge to their advantage. Recognition of these forces leads to recognition of their common patterns which means that you can mentally prepare yourself for what’s coming. One way that I practice this in my life is using it to help me focus my energy and efforts. In other words, I do my best to recognize which of my possible tasks (’X') provides the best reward (’Y'). For example, which college course teaches me the most and allows me to get the best grade? Which major will lead me to a satisfying and financially rewarding career? Once I decide, I focus my energy on those tasks that I find important and divert it away from those that are less important.
If this seems like a vague concept in general, then I feel that I have succeeded. I view this as being a vague concept. It can be applied to so many different situations and can be represented in so many different ways, some people may feel that it looses any meaning or usefulness. I maintain, however, that this view can be successfully adopted and can increase one’s enjoyment of life. It is neither a final nor a perfect concept, but hopefully a starting place for further thought on the matter by all who are intrigued.