Complexity is a Trap

I went back to Apple Notes a while ago.

It's simple, free, and relatively reliable.

It doesn't have any of the features a lot of folks love about Obsidian, etc. And honestly, Obsidian is a better product. But Apple Notes is simple.

And right now, simple is precisely what I need.

I have a tendency towards productivity obsession. This tool will be the one to fix everything. Solve all my problems. Make me a productivity machine. Etc. But with every new tool, all I really seem to do is add unnecessary friction and a laundry list of complications.

I'm realizing that this pursuit of complexity in the name of cohesion and perfection has been a self-destructive force in my life. If I'm honest with myself (on very rare occasions), it's a flaw that has followed me into every project I've started. It's been a part of every fuckup and bad decision, every career misstep. I second-guess and re-do and tangle everything up instead of letting go and letting things be.

I keep choosing complexity over simplicity.

I know I'm not alone in that.

The question is, why do we keep doing it? Over and over again, tying ourselves into knots in pursuit of perfection?

I think complexity gives us the illusion of control. Each new layer, each additional system, feels like a safety net. If we account for every variable, plan for every contingency, and optimize every process — surely then we’ll succeed.

But that's not how life works.

The parent with the most elaborate child-rearing methodology discovers their kid is an individual who breaks all the rules. The perfectionist with the most detailed life plan finds themselves blindsided by opportunity or crisis. The productivity guru with a dozen morning routines burns out while their neighbor thrives on black coffee and a walk.

And so on.

The midpoint of mastery in any field is marked by complexity. We’ve learned enough to see all the variables but not enough to understand which ones matter. We’re smart enough to build systems but not wise enough to simplify them.

Maybe we don’t have to burn down our tools or systems.

But we do need to understand their place. Systems should serve life, not constrain it. Tools should amplify wisdom, not replace it.

The experienced gardener knows when to let nature work.

The experienced teacher knows when to let students struggle.

The experienced parent knows when to let go.

Complexity is a response to fear. Fear of missing out. Fear of being wrong. Fear of missing our shot. Fear of not being special. Fear of the simple answer being too simple.

But life’s deepest truths are simple:

Love deeply.

Create value.

Stay curious.

Be present.

Do good work.

I guess the tl:dr is this: mastery isn’t adding layers. It’s peeling them away until only the essential remains.

Life can be simple. We choose to make it complex.