The butterfly effect phrase (a butterfly’s wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear) encapsulates the more technical notion of sensitive dependence on initial conditions in chaos theory. Small variations of the initial condition of a nonlinear dynamical system may produce large variations in the long term behavior of the system.
Now we all can make small changes. As we produce such positive changes, the whole life on Earth may be positively affected forever. So, just like the Google motto “Don’t be evil”, I say “Be good, do good”.
As you may know, Aristotele said “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” and “Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”
I found those words to be true.
Logical and plain simple to understand.
We have an overall image in our minds about the perfect person. Yet we find difficult following his examples and implementing his habits.
Luckly there are many resources on the internet to improve ourselves. One of the most interesting place is Zen Habits. The author, Leo Babauta, covers “achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits.”.
Another great source of inspiration is Lifehack which talks about “any hacks, tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increase productivity and organizing.”
Speaking about inspiration there’s a man you could have heard of: Benjamin Franklin. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. He sought to cultivate his character by a plan of thirteen virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his thirteen virtues as:
- TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
- TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
- HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
I believe that cultivating our own potential will bring about positive social change at large.
My habits therefore are:
- Wake up at 5 am
- Exercise on a regular basis
- Eat healthy food while drinking at least 1.5 liters of water per day
- Keeping the place where I live totally uncluttered
- Meditate at least 15/20 minutes a day
- Learn something new. Read the wikipedia
- Keep my mind in good shape studying physics or math
- Cultivate good relationships
- Cultivate various hobbies (and become good about them)
- Avoid television
This is a small portion of what I consider to be a list of good habits I’m trying to keep up with.