The Butterfly Effect…it’s up close and personal!

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”
–  Richard Bach, author

“It means every action impacts all subsequent actions…”

Marina, a slight, slim, brown haired East Indian woman of 35 who was upset, said,

“Ken, what does missing my child’s birthday party have to do with my health?  They are so unrelated to each other…what are you talking about?”

I replied  to her,

“We are systems: physical systems of muscles, bones, organs, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules, atoms, and many subatomic particles.  And also, mental systems of purposes, values, goals, strategies and behaviours. And, these systems are all interconnected and influencing one another, simultaneously.”

“Do you mean my beliefs affect my health?” she asked, incredulously.

“It means every action impacts all subsequent actions…the butterfly effect!” I replied.

I was later reminded of this discussion with Marina when I heard comments about our changing weather systems. We see and hear so much in the media about climate change and global warming.  Most of the focus is on the energy sector, fossil fuels, carbon emissions. and so on.

But, if we, are part of bigger systems on our planet, in our solar system and in our Milky Way Galaxy, then we are connected to everyone and everything around us.  And that’s what was brought to the forefront of my mind with Chad Frischmann’s TedTalk entitled, 100 Solution to Reverse Global Warming!

Chad Frischmann developed the methodology and models underpinning the New York Times best-seller Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming (Penguin, 2017). Drawdown was the number one best-selling environmental book of 2017 and is currently being translated into more than ten languages.

In collaboration with a global team of researchers, Frischmann designed integrated global models to assess the world’s most effective climate solutions and determine if, when and how the world can reach “drawdown,” the point in time when the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases begins to decline on a year-to-year basis.

Frischmann provides a systems-based, action-orientated approach to research and strategic leadership. Chad taught at the University of Oxford and the University of California at Berkeley and worked as a consultant and researcher for numerous organizations, from small grassroots nonprofits to international agencies such as UNESCO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

For example, you may not have realized how educating girls, family planning practices and what you decide to eat, impacts our climate…but it does!  So, if you’re serious about your future well being and your family’s too, then give Chad’s talk a close view. It will give you a much more empowering view of what’s happening.

Have a look at his talk and let me know what you think.  You could start being conscious of your own butterfly’s effect, eh?

“As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.”
– Joseph B. Wirthlin, businessman