This chapter explores the tension between an ought and an impossibility. It accomplishes this by delving into the complex relationship between energy, sovereignty, and transformation, drawing primarily on the insights from Clayton Crockett and Nick Mansfield. It begins by addressing the tension between the classical thermodynamic concepts of conservation and equilibrium, which suggest a balanced and stable reality, and the undeniable presence of change, particularly in our current era marked by economic instability, political upheaval, spiritual unease, and environmental crisis. The chapter further explores the idea of a ‘general economy,’ characterized by excess and expenditure, in contrast to a ‘restricted economy’ focused on exchange and balance, and examines how these economic models help us understand the dynamics of energy, life, and the potential for transformation. Ultimately, it grapples with the challenge of reconciling ourselves to the inevitability of death and dissipation, while at the same time, holding to the hope and commitment for a different future.