Chapter 9. Capacity

Every life must be carried by a mind.And like any system, the mind has limits.It can focus on only so many things at once.It can absorb only so much stress.It can sustain only a certain level of complexity before fatigue begins to appear.Yet modern life often encourages the opposite assumption—that more is always better. More commitments, more information, more goals, more stimulation.The result is that many people live at a pace where the demands placed upon the mind continually exceed what it can comfortably hold.When that happens, the symptoms appear quickly.Attention becomes scattered.Decisions feel exhausting.Irritation and anxiety rise.Even small problems begin to feel overwhelming.The common interpretation is that something is wrong with the person.But often the real issue is structural.The system is simply overloaded.