Wave Theory: How Cultural Movements Create Their Own Opposition
The first water drop always comes as a surprise- unless you've seen the weather report
Wave Theory: How Cultural Movements Create Their Own Opposition
Ever notice how figures like Jordan Peterson, Andrew Tate, and Donald Trump seem to dominate cultural conversations out of nowhere? Their meteoric rises aren't random—they're surfers riding waves created by societal forces far bigger than themselves.
This pattern isn't just about public figures. It explains everything from political shifts to your personal growth journey. I call it Wave Theory, and once you see it, you’ll be able to predict the future and accelerate your own personal growth.
Every Wave Creates a Counter-Wave
Every cultural movement naturally triggers its backlash- the responding wave. And each cultural movement responds to the movement that came before. Think of it as physics for society—push too hard one way, and you'll inevitably see an equal pushback as a response.
Take Jordan Peterson. His rapid emergence directly responded to an intense wave of progressive ideology sweeping American universities. When students demanded strict adherence to new pronoun norms, they created a vacuum someone was bound to fill. Peterson stepped into his "Rosa Parks moment," and created a new wave- but if it wasn't him, someone else would have emerged—the market finds its authentic spokesperson, not the other way around. The wave was coming regardless of who rode it.
The irony? Those who label Peterson dangerous created the exact conditions for his rise.
Wave Theory in Action: Political and Cultural Examples
Power Laws in Cultural Influence
Upcoming waves gain momentum from underserved perspectives, building pressure beneath the surface. Emotions are energy in motion, and they'll inevitably find expression through individuals that fully embody that movement. Influence accumulates according to power laws—the principle that 20% of vines yield 80% of grapes, or that a handful of artists receive most streams. Cultural influence works exactly the same way.
Politics: The Ultimate Wave Machine
American politics perfectly illustrates Wave Theory. Its two-party system simplifies wave prediction, creating a clear zig-zag pattern in its evolution.
The Obama wave emerged as a response to institutional racism, inspiring optimism and a sense of progressive momentum.
This led to powerful progressive movements emphasizing equal rights, legalization of gay marriage and eventually identity politics and radical inclusivity.
However, pushing these ideas too forcefully created ideal conditions for a conservative counter-wave, driven by those who felt marginalized or excluded from the progressive narrative.
Increasing polarization forced a new group of systems thinkers—those who could see nuance beyond left-right extremes—to emerge. Initially, these system-oriented thinkers were alienated by the left’s rigidity, driving many to align pragmatically with conservatives. This gave rise to institutions and movements like the playful yet culturally influential "DOGE" phenomenon, which blends humor, critique, and a rejection of ideological purity, illustrating a sophisticated, multi-layered response.
Just a few years ago, openly supporting Trump was career suicide for celebrities. Now, it's commonplace. Why? Because suppression creates anti-fragility—silence someone's truth long enough, and you'll give rise to a powerful counterforce. Today's dominant wave was born from yesterday’s suppression, and tomorrow’s will arise from whatever we suppress today.
Elon Musk vs Elon Must
Elon Musk is another perfect example. Initially, Musk aligned with many progressive ideals—clean energy, innovation, space exploration. But the left demanded he become "Elon Must," conforming strictly to ideological purity tests.
Meanwhile, Republicans simply waited across the dance floor with free snacks, welcoming those who felt pushed away.
The left could have had their own rocket man, but they wanted Elon Must instead of Elon Musk.
The Black/White/Gray Pattern: Wave Theory in Personal Development
This same wave dynamic plays out in our personal growth journeys. I sometimes call this the black, white, gray pattern:
We start at one extreme (black), overcorrect to the opposite (white), before finally finding balance (gray).
Health Example: Finding Balance
You might think unhealthy behavior simply leads to more unhealthy behavior—but here's the irony: that unhealthy behavior creates the exact conditions for healthy behaviour to emerge. (Unless they don’t)
If you're completely unhealthy with no idea what a calorie is (black), you'll eventually hit a low point that motivates radical change. Suddenly, you're counting every calorie, setting strict rules, and engaging in obsessive training (white). Only after experiencing both extremes can you find your balanced, integrated perspective (gray)—a sustainable approach to health that incorporates wisdom from both phases.
Unfortunately, our attention-driven economy rewards people on the extremes. Most "health YouTubers" are making money from novelty and pushing content daily/weekly, keeping them radicalized "whites" promoting solutions that lack balance. Their job requires them to stay extreme—balanced advice doesn't get views.
Don’t get caught up with the radicalised whites.
Habits Example: From Chaos to Integration
Or let's say you're really irresponsible with habits and never learned them growing up- (some people inherit balance in select areas from their family culture) having no habits eventually leads you to figure out that something need to change- you start with having no habits (black) - then bam, you read Atomic Habits and start following productivity YouTubers and now the habits are running your life and you feel defeated every day (white). Where's the balance? Productivity YouTube won't show you the nuance but instead promote the latest and hottest habit framework and the latest 10 steps billionare morning routine to follow.
Religion Example: Finding Your Truth
Similarly, if you grow up in a very religious and strict household (white) and then break away completely to become an atheist (black), you're still caught in the wave dynamics. But where's your balance? What is your gray? Atheist YouTube won't give it to you.
As Buddha said - the middle path is key. We need to integrate lessons from both extremes to find our own balance.
What's fascinating is that this "black-white-gray" pattern continues to evolve even after you've found your initial balance. Balance itself is always relative—your sense of stability might look like chaos to someone else. Each "gray" zone you reach eventually reveals new shades of black and white, pulling you into another cycle of refinement.
Just like how a systems thinker continuously integrates and rebalances increasingly nuanced perspectives, the future also moves toward smaller, more subtle shifts rather than dramatic swings. As we climb these waves, each cycle becomes more precise, more stable, and more refined—provided nobody destabilizes the entire structure along the way.
Using Wave Theory: Practical Applications
Predicting Future Movements
Looking at current cultural forces, we can predict what's coming next. Looking at our lives - we can determine where we are stuck and where we may want to reduce rigidness and find more balance.
In politics, for example, the next successful Democratic wave will require a leader who embodies a synthesis of Spiral Dynamics stages: Green compassion (social fairness), Orange practicality (achievement-driven), and Yellow systemic thinking (big-picture solutions). (Yes, Wave Theory pairs beautifully with Spiral Dynamics.)
Looking two waves ahead, we'll witness systemic thinkers shifting from today's quiet minority—often camouflaged as "moderates"—to a new, influential norm. Our current pressure cooker of polarization is gradually paving the way for leaders who naturally think in holistic, nuanced terms about complex social issues. Eventually, within this systemic-thinking majority, a new internal tension will arise: humanity-oriented systems thinkers will push back against efficiency-driven systems thinkers, rejecting overly mechanistic approaches in favor of more compassionate and human-centric solutions. But we're not there yet. The left hasn't quite figured this out, and the Doge people still have some tricks up their sleeves. They're riding their meme-fueled wave with plenty of efficient tech-snacks left at the party. So, for now, grab some popcorn—this ride is far from over.
Our attention-driven economy is due for a shift as well. You can only bash people's attention spans for so long—just look at Google Search, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Eventually, users will reclaim their time and attention. We're already seeing subtle indicators of this, with tech companies moving toward subscription models rather than aggressively maximizing ad impressions. But that's just a band-aid—it won't fully solve the core issue of attention extraction.
A bigger wave is coming. It might emerge from a new product-market shift, like large language models (LLMs) reshaping the search landscape, or stronger consumer protection laws, as we're starting to see in Europe. Exactly how this wave will crest isn't entirely clear yet, but rest assured, change is inevitable. The pendulum always swings back, and we're nearing that tipping point.
Technology has been obsessed for decades with cramming 10 devices into one—your phone became your camera, calculator, music player, notebook, and even therapist. But now, we're seeing an interesting counter-wave emerging: a return to simpler, purpose-built devices. Think of dedicated e-readers, distraction-free writing tablets, minimalist phones, or wearables like Oura rings and Whoop bands that do one thing exceptionally well.
This "less-is-more" wave hasn't fully crashed ashore yet, but early ripples are clearly visible—people want to reduce complexity without sacrificing capability.
Unhealthy consumption is already nearing its expiration date. Mindless indulgence in fast food and fast media is finally showing signs of fatigue—people can only binge on low-consciousness junk for so long before they crave nourishment, both physical and mental.
We're seeing early ripples of the next wave already forming. Health and longevity are becoming genuinely cool—think about the exploding popularity of Andrew Huberman’s podcasts, the "don't die" movement, RFK Jr.'s health advocacy, the "maximize testosterone" conversations, the Ozempic trend, Zyn replacing traditional tobacco, and the noticeable decline in alcohol’s social cachet.
McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and similar companies defined an earlier paradigm. Now, they're approaching a pivotal moment—evolve or fade away. Soon, truly healthy fast-food brands (imagine convenient meals that actually fuel your body) will start carving significant chunks from the profits of Domino's and McDonald's. It'll be fascinating to watch.
Want to spot what's coming next? Ask yourself: Who’s currently getting bashed the hardest? The intensity of the current backlash directly predicts the strength of the next wave.
Personal Growth: Finding Your Gray
Think about your own life—where are you stuck in black or white thinking? Is there an area where you've swung from one extreme to another, missing the balanced gray in between? It’s there waiting for you. Life is too short to be radical.
Most people need to hit a wall before changing direction. But here's your advantage: understanding Wave Theory lets you recognize your position in these patterns and consciously work toward balance without waiting for the painful crash.
The Chill Pill Everyone Needs
Many people panic, thinking the current season will last forever: "Oh no, this winter will never end!" Such fear is often intentionally stoked by those eager to accelerate change. But remember, seasons always change. If you're getting too heated over politics or current events, you're literally getting cooked. Take a deep breath—this too shall pass.
It's easy to assume the worst intentions from those we disagree with, but in reality, most people are simply doing their best from their perspective. Few wake up intending harm. This perspective alone can ease much tension and help you navigate life with a calmer, clearer mind.
Even this post itself is a wave—a refreshing response to the overly complex, fear-driven discussions dominating today's discourse. We're here to simplify, clarify, and empower.
I invite you to become a wave-watcher with me. Recognizing these patterns gives you a superpower: the ability to confidently predict and adapt to what's coming next, both in society and your personal journey. When you understand the waves, you can surf them rather than get swept away.
Now, it's your turn: What wave do you see quietly gathering strength that others might be missing? Share your insights
The first water drop always comes as a surprise- unless you've seen the weather report