I’ve always liked thinking of curiosity as the undercurrent in my life—not as a straight path but as a zigzagging trail that leads me to unexpected directions.
At 40, it’s no longer something I consciously cultivate; it’s just engraved into everything I do. It shows up in the questions that I ask myself or my athletes during a run, it also appears in the stack of books in my desk and at my bed I can’t seem to finish.
Lately, I’ve noticed this same energy in my daughter, Josefa. She asks questions not to impress me or prove anything but simply to see what’s possible. Watching her reminds me that curiosity isn’t just an undergoing habit—it’s a strategy, maybe even the most essential one for building up in life.
But to be honest this curiosity has taken me to the point of distraction sometimes. At 40 years old, this curiosity has become a kind of reflex, weaving through everything I do: running, parenting, building a business, giving advice, and trying to make sense of the world. Some days, it leads me to books or podcasts; other days, it comes from Instagram polls or late-night Substack reading.
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about perception—not just how others see us, but how we see ourselves.
What makes someone a good father, founder, or athlete? What gives life its purpose?
So, as I often do, I threw a question out to my Instagram audience.
The poll was simple:
Runners are only as good as:
a) Their last workout
b) Their best workout
c) Something else
Around 80% of responses leaned toward “something else,” of course…
But what stuck with me wasn’t the answers—it was the conversations that followed.
People started thinking deeper about the question. They asked me what I meant by “good” and whether it was about effort, consistency, or something intangible.
To be honest, that’s the whole point of this exercise—and this newsletter. I’m here to try to challenge how I think and connect with others willing to think a little deeper, too.
One of those conversations brought me to a surprising place: George Soros and his theory of reflexivity. It’s not every day you connect running to finance, but hear me out—it works. Thank you Comet!
What Is Reflexivity? A Primer on Soros
George Soros, the billionaire investor, philanthropist, and theorist, developed the concept of reflexivity to explain market behavior. At its core, reflexivity suggests that there’s a two-way relationship between perception and reality. In most traditional theories, markets are seen as rational, with prices reflecting underlying value. Soros, however, argued that perception influences reality—and vice versa—in a feedback loop.
Here’s how it works in finance:
1. Perception shapes behavior. If investors believe a company is valuable, they’ll buy its stock, driving up the price.
2. Behavior shapes reality. A higher stock price gives the company access to more capital, which can improve its actual performance.
3. Reality reinforces perception. Improved performance makes the company seem even more valuable, creating a virtuous cycle—or, in some cases, a bubble.
Soros famously used this idea to his advantage, most notably in 1992, when he “broke the Bank of England.” By understanding how market perception of the British pound would influence its value, he positioned himself to profit when reality caught up with perception.
So how does this apply to running—or life in general?
Just as investors’ perceptions influence the stock market, our self-perceptions shape how we perform in running.
If you believe you’re capable of hitting a tough workout, you’re more likely to approach it with confidence and focus, increasing your chances of success.
That success, in turn, reinforces your belief in your abilities, making you more confident in the future.
This is a positive feedback loop—the athletic version of a bull market. But reflexivity also warns of the reverse: negative perceptions can lead to self doubt and underperformance, creating a downward spiral.
When I posted that poll, I wasn’t just thinking about running. I was thinking about how we define ourselves—by our most recent actions, our peak moments, or something less tangible.
Reflexivity suggests that how we answer that question doesn’t just reflect who we are; it actively shapes who we become!
How can we apply this to running
Reflexivity shows up all over the running world…
Consider these examples:
1. Goal Setting and Belief in Training
Ambitious goals create their own reflexive cycle. Marathoners aiming for a sub-3-hour race will execute their training around that belief, pushing themselves harder and with more purpose. When they achieve the goal, their perception shifts:
I’m the kind of runner who can break barriers.
This newfound confidence feeds into their next challenge, creating a cycle of growth.
2. Coaching as a Mirror
A coach’s belief in an athlete can act as a powerful feedback loop. When a coach sees potential in an athlete, they provide opportunities, encouragement, and resources that the athlete might not have pursued otherwise. As the athlete improves, they start to see themselves through the coach’s eyes, reinforcing their progress and deepening the loop.
3. Team Dynamics
In running, a shared belief in collective potential can elevate performance. Think about those track and field teams that seem unstoppable—not because they’re perfect, but because their confidence is bulletproof.
Success breeds belief, which breeds more success, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.
Reflexivity isn’t just a running concept—or even a financial one. It’s everywhere.
Social media, for example, thrives on this principle. Platforms like Instagram create a reflexive relationship between perception and behavior: the more we engage, the more we shape the algorithm, which in turn shapes what we see and how we think.
It’s easy to dismiss this as pure dopamine chasing (If you havnt read Dopamine Nation, please do, it has plenty to say about that), but there’s another side to it.
When used thoughtfully, these platforms can become tools for exploration, of curiosity enhancement. My Instagram poll was a small example: by throwing out a question, I wasn’t just gauging opinions; I was trying to invite people into a reflexive loop of their own.
What fascinates me most about reflexivity is how it turns every interaction into a potential feedback loop. The stories we tell ourselves—about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what matters—don’t just describe our reality. They create it.
That’s why I’m so drawn to questions. They’re not just about finding answers; they’re about creating space for reflection and connection.
In running, as in life, it’s the “something else” that often matters most—the loop between effort and belief, perception and reality.
So here’s my question:
How do we define ourselves? Am I a reflection of my last effort, my peak moments, or something deeper?
Whatever your answer is, remember this:
The way you see yourself today shapes who you’ll become tomorrow.
In the end, it all comes back to loops—whether it’s the dopamine loops that Dr. Anna Lembke warns us about in Dopamine Nation, the feedback loops George Soros describes in reflexivity, or the endless cycles we create in our own lives.
These loops aren’t inherently good or bad; they’re shaped by how we use them. Social media can trap us in mindless scrolling, or it can spark questions that reshape our thinking.
Perception can limit us, or it can unlock potential we didn’t know we had.
What I’ve learned is this:
The stories we tell ourselves—and the tools we use to challenge and refine those stories—hold immense power.
Whether we’re runners, parents, founders, or simply seekers, we have the ability to step into those loops with intention, to turn curiosity into growth, and to shape a life that’s not just purposeful but deeply reflective.
Thank you for reading,
Luis.
Let me know your experiences and observations about this—I’d love to discuss more in detail if your down to it.
P.S. Special thanks to Comet and Sonia for deepening on this one with me.