The Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect

 Tim Connor

I am sure you have seen ripples in a stream or lake.  These are caused by some external factor like wind, a passing boat or a school of fish. But ever noticed how far they travel before they sort of disappear into the rest of the water?

As a sailor I can tell you my boat has been rocked for several minutes due to the ripples of another boat that was hundreds of yards away from mine.

So, enough of the analogy, what’s this have to do with the purpose of this week’s article?

Trust me there are ripples to every event, decision, action, word spoken and even not spoken. These ripples can last for years and touch many people in the process.  And yes, there are both positive and negative ripples as we go through our days and years.

One of the many definitions for the word Ripple - a series of repercussions or consequences.  So is this starting to become a little more obvious where I’m heading?

Let me start with positive ripples.  When you smile at someone, a stranger or a friend there is a better than average chance that they will smile at the next person they see.  Share a friendly hello with someone and they will likely do the same with another person who crosses their path and so on.  So your simple smile might eventually indirectly touch thousands of people, most of whom you do not know.

Share compassion, understanding or a listening ear with someone and they are likely to do the same when the opportunity appears.  Another way to describe this is to “pay it forward’ – you may be familiar with this term. 

Regardless, the point is that there are always consequences to our actions, decisions and words. So let’s dig into the main point I want to make – that there are consequences both negative and positive that touch others in some way that you may never be aware of.

I could give you numerous business, relationship, financial and health examples, but here are two common ones.

You make a rash and quick career decision to change employers due to your need for increased income.  The position you accept is not ideal in many ways but it does pay more.  Consequences? The ripple effect . . .

-Increased stress from working all day in a job that doesn’t feel right for some reason.

-Less patience with family due to this increased stress.

-Increased potential for illness due to this stress.

-Negative thought patterns on a regular basis.

-These thought patterns will increase the potential for conflict.

-Increased conflict has a negative impact on relationships.

-Over time you may start to feel guilt, resentment and even anger.

-These feelings can impact the way you drive, what you eat and how you treat others.

So, you accepted a position to solve a temporary situation but this decision is impacting many other areas of your life on a consistent daily basis.

Second example – You decide to purchase something you want but don’t need thereby leaving your resources a bit short for other more important items or financial requirements.

-You buy a new toy (boat, technology device, condo, - whatever) that you really don’t need but for some reason; (ego, insecurity, the need to feel successful, to impress others again – whatever) but now money becomes tight.  People do this every December – buy presents on credit then have to spend months paying off these bills and for what – to buy stuff for people that often don’t need or even want what you buy them.

So as you try and recover from this purchase and try to enjoy it you start to feel remorse, guilt or even self-anger at your lack of common sense or financial maturity. Think these thoughts will manifest and spill over into your relationships?  Your financial pressure? Your sense of responsibility being hurt in some way? Or, just having to make excuse or justify your purchase to family or friends.

I don’t know if you can relate to either of these two examples but I’ll guarantee I have you thinking about the short and long term consequences of poor decisions, bad choices, inappropriate words etc.

Everything has consequences.  Some consequences are positive while others can be negative.  Some can be short term while others can take their toll over years, but let me repeat – every choice, action, decision and behavior does not just sit there in the present it lingers for hours, weeks or even years thus – The Ripple Effect.

The answer – accept the fact that there will always be ripples no matter what you do or say, but you can positively impact them with better choices, wiser decisions and more mature actions and thoughtful behavior.    

“Pure motives do not ensure perfect results.”

Bovee