Strange Attractors in Life, Work, and Relationships
In high school geometry, we were taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Meanwhile, in fractal geometry a type of equation exists called a Strange Attractor, that produces beautifully complex plots like this:
What makes these equations “strange” is that those graceful curves and twists are not made of continuous lines at all. When you plot the first points of a strange attractor, they look like random dots scattered everywhere:
It is only after enough points are plotted that the beautiful and complex geometry begins to take form, as successive points are “attracted” to specific paths that would have been impossible to predict.
Many life experiences are like that. The amount of data you have at the beginning of the journey looks more like a random jumble with no clear sense of order or direction. There’s definitely no straight line. If you stick with it though, you eventually get to a place where the picture becomes clear and it’s obvious where the remaining pieces will fall.
How do you navigate through the confusing and disorderly first part? First, let things happen. It won’t always make sense. Second, keep in mind that the next step is not always exactly forward. It may be sideways, back, up or down. Last, remember that everyone around you is also trying to figure it out.
Fractal images created using Chaoscope.
