The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

In the early 1960s, a meteorologist named Ed Lorenz discovered that small disturbances in the atmosphere can cause enormous climate changes. This discovery, which Lorenz published in a 1963 article, would become one of the greatest achievements of twentieth-century physics.

The discovery wasn’t widely publicized outside the scientific community, but got wider traction after Lorenz, in a 1972 lecture at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), included this sentence to describe the phenomenon: “A butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can produce a tornado in Texas.”?

Lorenz’s discovery would become known as “the butterfly effect.”??

It seems crazy, or at least a considerable stretch, to think that a butterfly flapping its wings in South America would have anything to do with – let alone cause, a tornado in the south central region of the United States. But the relationship between the two is not direct. Rather, the butterfly’s flap simply changes the present state, which begins the chain of a series of events.

So, why is this important for us? Because that same concept holds true in our lives. Small actions can lead to huge changes over time, through a chain of events that would not occur had the small action not occurred in the first place.?

Here are a few applications:

1. Your thoughts.?Like the flap of a butterfly’s wings, our thoughts set off a series of events. Our thoughts determine what we say, and the actions we take. Over time, those thoughts and actions have a huge impact on the results we create in our lives.

Earl Nightingale, known as the “Dean of Personal Development, said, “We become what we think about most of the time, and that’s the strangest secret.” What are you thinking about most of the time, and what effect is that having on you?

2. Your goals.?As you might know, I’m a huge goal setter, and I set big goals. I dream big, and then take massive action to make those dreams come true. I hope you do, too.

Big dreams can be overwhelming at times, and the way to achieve big goals is the same way you eat an elephant: One bite at a time. By reducing your big goal into small, achievable steps, you will gain momentum and build the habit of continuous action toward your desired outcome.

3. Your actions toward others.?A simple act of kindness goes a long way. We don’t always know what someone is going through or what they’re struggling with. But we can often make a positive impact simply by being kind. This seems like such a small gesture, but the impact over time can be significant, and maybe even life-changing for the recipient of your kindness.

Ed Lorenz’s physics discovery reminds us that our actions are not merely isolated incidents, but rather are occurrences that have an impact on something else. What is the wing flap you can make today to create positive change in your life, and the world around you?

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Brian Bartes的更多文章

  • 5 Strategies to Turbocharge Your Success in 2023

    5 Strategies to Turbocharge Your Success in 2023

    As I write this, I’m sitting in my living room, looking at our Christmas tree and the fire burning in the fireplace…

  • The Best Books I’ve Read in 2022

    The Best Books I’ve Read in 2022

    “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” –…

  • Embrace Change and Inspire Growth

    Embrace Change and Inspire Growth

    Life is full of many unpredictable changes. For many of us – me included – this can be a difficult concept to wrap our…

    1 条评论
  • One Word Theme 2023

    One Word Theme 2023

    For the past several years, my year-end planning has included an exercise called the One Word Theme. Choosing a single…

  • Feeling Grateful When Life is Hard

    Feeling Grateful When Life is Hard

    Gratitude can certainly cause us to feel happier and healthier, but what do you do when you feel hard-pressed to find…

    20 条评论
  • 6 Tips to Spark Meaningful Conversations During the Holidays

    6 Tips to Spark Meaningful Conversations During the Holidays

    The holidays are a great time for forging new connections and strengthening old ones. Whether it is around the dinner…

    30 条评论
  • 5 Gratitude Habits to Practice Daily

    5 Gratitude Habits to Practice Daily

    Gratitude has a profound impact on your health, wellness, and happiness. When we give thanks and express appreciation…

    30 条评论
  • The Effects of Gratitude on the Brain

    The Effects of Gratitude on the Brain

    What if there was one simple act that could boost your happiness exponentially? According to current research, being…

    36 条评论
  • Success Habits of Lifelong Learners

    Success Habits of Lifelong Learners

    One of the most important things you can do to contribute to your success is to become a lifelong learner. Both…

    28 条评论
  • 4 Ways to Break Your Bad Habits & Replace Them with Better Ones

    4 Ways to Break Your Bad Habits & Replace Them with Better Ones

    Everyone has at least one bad habit that they wish they could overcome. Maybe you always run a few minutes late for…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了