Chain Reaction

We know that an action, a happening, or an event is not particularly isolated. Its existence can—and often does—lead to another event, whether larger or smaller...

Something changes when something happens, or when something that used to happen stops happening. In the extreme, everything might even remain the same. No change occurs. At best, one merely notices that something happened.

There are actions that take place that no one knew had happened. It’s normal for that to happen...

Just like that well-known thought experiment that asks what sound is made when a tree falls in a forest where no one is there to hear it...

Today, I want to reflect on the events that may or may not be noticed, but that have a major influence on our lives. Not immediately, but they eventually become, in some way, a foundation upon which other events can build.

Not too long ago, I heard a Japanese proverb that perfectly conveyed this idea, and which vividly illustrated the consequence—in this case, a growing one—of the importance of each step, and the possibility of climbing to ever greater heights of significance.

As I mentioned earlier, an action doesn’t always reveal extreme importance or have far-reaching consequences, but in this Japanese proverb, there is a connection.
Let’s take a look:

We must be careful with our thoughts, for they become our words.

We must be careful with our words, for they become our actions.

We must be careful with our actions, for they become our habits.

We must be careful with our habits, for they become our character.

We must be careful with our character, for it becomes our destiny.

As we can see, if we allow thoughts to take root—in words, and then in actions, habits, and character—all of this will contribute to changing and influencing our destiny.

Something as volatile and almost ephemeral as a thought—which is nonetheless significant—can, if taken to the extreme, shape the way we live our lives.

And we can certainly find some examples—which are, in their own way, extreme. If I have criminal thoughts, my destiny—should those thoughts turn into actions, habits, and character—will very likely involve having my freedom restricted...

We should seek to change our destiny, simply, long before the seed is sown. A good seed, planted in fertile soil and well cared for, will grow into a tree that bears much fruit.

^{Image by katerinavulcova from Pixabay
Original text written by @xrayman in Portuguese and translated with DeepL.com (free version)}