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?
