The Butterfly Effect
Take action aligned with your principles, don’t judge the results you see.
Too often we are afraid of failure so we do not act.
Too often we judge success or failure by only the results we can see directly.
A seemingly small act can profoundly alter humanity.
A simple request of a person to see his or her greatness,
even if declined initially, can be the seed that germinates in the mind. In chaos theory this is called the Butterfly effect. A simple act that changes one state of a complex system can result in profound changes in later states. For example, minor perturbations caused by the flap of a butterfly’s wing in China might produce a hurricane in New England several weeks later. This applies to humanity as well. The simple act could be a small group of people who come together to make a difference. It could be by each person in that group reaching out and making a relationship stronger, asking someone their dreams and inviting them to take action. It could be by one of those people choosing to take action and enroll in the July 29 Legacy Journey. In the realm of the potential impact on humanity, it can seem like a small change: you are real, you connect with a few people, and you stand for them to take action. Perhaps just one of them decides to take the Journey. But the impact down the road can be profound for each and every one of those people!
Twenty one years ago when I was not going to be Leadership, after being asked by several people, a woman I did not know at all laughed and said, “You would make a big difference in the world and Leadership is the best deal going,” That simple remark and her way of being had me finally say yes. That final request and me saying yes, had hundreds of people touched during Leadership.
Four months later, my senior Rita whispered in my ear on third weekend to start transformation in North Carolina where there were no trainings. How could Rob Katz and I take a bite out of the drift when we were the only ones? Well, the simple acts of Lisa Kalmin and John Hanley, integrity, vision, and intention, had us flap our wings. Rita’s words forever in my ears had us say yes to the call and now tens of thousands of people’s lives have been touched. Projects have been created around the world, and I can only hope that we are closer to peace on this planet. If I was to judge myself only by the results I see in front of me, some days I might choose not to flap my wings.
Recently a man in Durham, NC, Chris Rosati, gave strangers in a restaurant, two girls (10 and 13 years old) $50 dollars each. He said, “Do something kind.” He then forgot all about it. Several months later he got an email from a Village in Africa with people holding signs thanking him for the kindness. The girls used the money to fund a feast for a village that was celebrating being Ebola Free. They said, “it made us want to do something good.” Giving creates giving. Flap your wings.
Be the space that creates the small changes that will end up impacting humanity. It only takes loving one person. Don’t judge if they respond the “way you want.” Just give your heart fully to everyone. Perhaps your giving will transform a part of humanity.
