The Closed Loop

Here's an analogy:

Imagine a closed-loop system that continually grows in power. But rather than a virtuous cycle of self-improvement, half of the power gets rerouted back inward — towards the middle of the system. This energy routed inward against itself is what happens in a win/lose dynamic.

The circle grows, but part of the growth is like a donut expanding from within — stretching apart like a cell undergoing mitosis. Two halves form, each growing, each pulling away from the other.

But because it's a closed-loop system, it's bound by constraints. Eventually the energy imbalance reaches a breaking point, forcing both sides to slam back together — like dueling armies racing toward each other on a battlefield.

When this happens, the two halves fight each other. One wins. The circle is bigger than when it started, but it's spent a tremendous amount of energy on this internal conflict. Then contrast that with a virtuous cycle — win/win — where the system expands together through recursive improvement.