What If...

Endless what-ifs cloud the mind that worries, and the mind that doesn’t worry. I’ve yet to stumble into a person who hasn’t used the aforementioned phrase, “but what if…” I think that perhaps the best way to succeed with this phrase is to pair it with the best outcome. A mind trick to distract the self from the mind, so that for just one moment, things go better than expected. I once had a teacher who did not allow us to use the phrase; it didn’t help make progress in class. Often, it was met with, “And what if the sky fell?” It’s no use to create baseless claims on worst-case scenarios, not when it’s just as likely for the best-case scenario to happen.

It's always possible for either scenario to occur. Why live assuming the worst? Presumptively, it’s a habit to protect oneself from experiencing hurt. Don’t get your hopes up. What if you can assume the best-case scenario without getting your hopes up? And what if I find a $100 bill on the ground outside? The argument intensifies. How good can you make life by assuming the best-case scenario?

“[Years] ago, MIT Professor Edward Lorenz was running a weather simulation and rounded off one of the parameters from six decimal places to three. To his surprise, two months of simulated weather were completely different as a result. He would later liken the situation to the flap of a butterfly’s wings spawning a distant tornado. That’s the butterfly effect most often mentioned; it’s an expression of chaotic behavior. In complex systems such as the weather, a small change in the conditions at one moment can produce an enormous subsequent change overall.”

In a world of chaos, one thing prevails. Termed fate, coincidence, happenstance. This occurrence will go on either way, whether you arrive late, early, or on time. The butterfly effect in a negative light could lead one to be paralyzed by decision; however, choosing not to decide is still a decision. In a positive light, the butterfly effect is an inspiration for kindness. One small act can make all the difference in someone’s day. Regardless of the way one chooses to carry out their day, the effect will happen anyway.

Reference:

Tyler, C. (2021, August 1). The quantum butterfly effect. Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://discover.lanl.gov/publications/1663/2021-august/the-quantum-butterfly-effect/