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Chaos, complexity and catastrophe
theories are sciences of relationships that provide models which
can regenerate relationship coaching, counseling and therapy. Our
systems approach to consciousness applies these models to human
identity, values, beliefs and behavior.
We help people renew their experience of self,
simultaneously changing limiting beliefs and dependent behavior.
Instead of trying to change life according to some egotistic, dogmatic
or statistical model, systemic solutions helps people live with integrity.
Continued in Chaos Coaching - Part 2
Please respect our copyright! Plagiarism is illegal.
Chaos in Coaching, Counseling & Psychotherapy
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For millennia, our ancestors pondered the
creation of order. They created simple stories to describe the emergence of
stable systems from chaos.
These early descriptions comprise primitive
chaos theories that eventually lead to
quantum thinking and
systems theory.
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In the 14th century, William of Occam
criticized people who created complex explanations for simple phenomena,
saying "Do not multiply entities needlessly". This Occam's
Razor, helped people "cut" through complex theories. In the 20th
century, Albert Einstein updated this, saying, "Make
everything as simple as possible - but not simpler".
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Kumulipo Chant
Hawaiian
(translated) |
When space turned around, the earth heated
When space turned over, the sky reversed
When the sun appeared standing in shadows
To cause light to make bright the moon
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Classical physics was based on beliefs in
deterministic, time-reversible descriptions of Nature, and lacks distinctions
between past and future. Although such a universe would be ruled by deterministic laws,
our macroscopic world is not reversible. (This was ancient Greek
Epicurus' dilemma of being and becoming, an idea that chance allows
flexibility rather than rigid predetermination.)
Chaos theory can be applied to human relationship systems
such as families and teams. The emerging fields of systemic coaching and
systemic psychotherapy provide massive insight into the behavior of individuals
in human systems. Applications of chaos theory in the social sciences can
unite physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realities - if (and only if)
we can let go of classical, pre-systemic notions.
The behavior of complex systems is not truly random, rather the final
state is so sensitive to the initial conditions that it is impossible to predict
the future behavior of a complex system without infinite knowledge of all motions and energies (i.e.
the "Butterfly Effect" postulates that a butterfly in South America might
influence storms in the North Atlantic).
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Eric Poincare, a founder of modern chaos theory, wrote in
1882 "It may happen that small differences in the initial
conditions produce very great ones in the final phenomena".
Poincaré used the term bifurcation to describe the
emergence of multiple potential stable solutions.
Poincare's work infers that if all outcomes have a similar chance
of manifestation, then chaotic outcomes will manifest more frequently than desired
outcomes - as there are many more chaotic possibilities resulting from tiny
differences in the initial conditions. |
Poincaré's perceptions are relevant to human goals in human
systems. Civilizations rise and fall, but never in the same way twice. Minor
experiences of individual people can result in unpredictable changes the world.
Remember the childhood story ... for the want of a nail ... a kingdom can be lost.
Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics
Before chaos theory, scientists could not analyze complex
systems, and could not predict complex behavior, even with detailed
knowledge. To avoid complexity, scientists assumed that behavior in
complex systems was linear, and used statistical analysis to assess
and predict the behavior of populations. In a pre-systemic world,
individual contributions to population statistics are ignored.
If individual
excellence is smeared across populations,
then social sciences are (by
definition) sciences of
mediocrity.
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If human systems were linear, babies could smoothly
transform into adults; businesses could easily change from making candles to
making computers; and countries could gently shift from fascist to
democracy.
Periods of chaos are normal in living systems.
During chaotic times, unexpected opportunities compete for survival
in changing environments.
Order within Chaos: fractal by Martyn Carruthers
2003 |
Assumptions of linearity and an obsession with statistics
provided scientists with temporary patches until the discovery of universal
properties of non-linear, complex systems. But classical assumptions are
still used to blur individual expertise across human populations.
The sciences of human behavior, which could become our greatest
human achievement, remain dull, weak and manipulative.
Temporary statistical patches, like temporary taxes, dominate
social scientists. Yet individual human excellence can be modeled and replicated
with Expert Modeling, a basis of Systemic
Solutions. See also Quantum
Thinking.
The I of Identity
Your subjective experience of your objective reality - your
semantic "map of the world" - your answer to the question
"Who am I?" is reflected in your behavior. Your every action
is a hologram of your life and reflects your
perception of reality - hence your perceptions are largely bounded by your past
actions. You live in a phase space.
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Phase Space
& Strange Attractors |
A system confining an entity and
its relationships (phase space) contains vast enfolded
information. The organizing principles of a phase space are
called attractors. As complex systems are both
unpredictable and patterned, limitations in a complex phase space are
called strange attractors. |
Without the need to solve complex problems, there might be no
human personality. There might be many bodies, and no reason to label
individuals. A bee-hive society would lack a phase space
in which individual differences are important. And it would
lack the ability to choose its own future.
Your behavior is predictable within the limits
imposed by your perception of your environment. No matter how much you
think, you are unlikely to leave the safety of your thoughts. You stay
within the confines of your beliefs. Your beliefs act as attractors of
your attention and your possible actions.
As complex systems are now modeled with computers, chaos
theory is widely applied in technology. This is largely
ignored by social scientists, for whom complexity remains hidden
under pre-systemic assumptions of linearity and obsessions with
statistics. Many agents of change resist change.
Phase Transitions at the Edge of Chaos
You can adapt to your environment and to changing conditions
within limits. Yet, like all self-organizing systems, you are on the edge of
chaos - close to a phase transition in which either you or your
environment change in ways that you cannot control ... and perhaps in
ways that you cannot survive.
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When chaos intrudes on your life, when you are overwhelmed
by a crisis, you can collapse with fear and retreat into addictions, depression
or psychosis. Or you can embrace change with courage, and transform with joy.
At these moments, systemic solutions can
help you transcend your old boundaries and limits and find
new ways of being.
Phase Transition |
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The edge of chaos is a critical point of a system. During a phase
transition or crisis, minute changes can either tip the system into chaotic
behavior or into stability. During a crisis, tiny details from your past or present
can have enormous and statistically unpredictable impact on your future.
Crisis provides motivation - not just for you to change - but
for you to transform. During a crisis, you may surprise everybody, including yourself, with
solutions that shorten or prolong your survival.
Chaos Coaching
We help motivated adults experience integrity - by exploring
their personal realities to find the most profound sense of self. This journey
often leads to a series of unusual experiences - we often refer to them as
ecstatic states.
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I found a place of nothing and
everything ... I could see and feel and touch options I had not considered nor
even imagined possible ... I found a life goal that I never knew and always
sought ... exploring the possibilities of existence to find my true self. |
At the edge of chaos, when little makes sense and
everything is possible, miracles can happen. But hoping for a miracle
rarely ensures survival. Survival requires endurance, a benefactor
or transformation - a change in identity that helps you
identify and manifest previously unimaginable solutions.
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The edge of chaos is the edge of miracles
... also the edge of insanity and the edge of life. (If you feel fear, probably
you want to live.)
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An edge of chaos perspective can be empowering. We coach
motivated adults to create perturbations - imbalances
which can bring them back into balance. Our chaos coaching can take people to
the cutting edge of reality ... and over the edge of chaos ... where they can
restructure identity and find systemic solutions for complex problems ...
Chaos Coaching - Part 2
Expert Modeling .
Knowledge Management .
Systems Theory
Do you want to
benefit from our experience?
|
Mr. Carruthers ... we are pleased with your
services ... we note that some people of limited
morals and intelligence ... are stealing your creativity ...
our lawyers can help you litigate ... at low cost ... |
Copyright ©Martyn Carruthers 2004 -2010
All rights reserved
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