Chaos, Coaching & Therapy Part 1
Solving Complex Problems © Martyn Carruthers

Online Chaos Coaching & Mentorship

Chaos, complexity and catastrophe theories are sciences that provide models which can regenerate coaching, counseling and therapy. Our systems approach applies these models to human identity, values, beliefs and behavior.

We help people renew their experience of self, while changing limiting beliefs and habits. Instead of trying to change life according to some egotistic, dogmatic or statistical models, we accompany people who want to live with integrity.

Continued in Chaos Coaching - Part 2

Chaos in Coaching & Counseling

For millennia, our ancestors pondered the creation of order. They created simple stories to describe the emergence of stable systems from chaos. These early stories comprise primitive chaos theories that eventually lead to quantum thinking and systems theory.

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".

Classical physics was based on deterministic 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 between 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 field of systemic coaching provides massive insight into the behavior of members of 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 random, rather the final states are so sensitive to the initial conditions that it is impossible to predict the future behavior of complex systems without near-infinite knowledge of all motions and energies (i.e. the so-called Butterfly Effect postulates that a butterfly in South America might influence storms in the North Atlantic).

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 individuals can lead to unpredictable changes in the world. Do you 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 chaotic 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.

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 obsessions with statistics provided scientists with temporary patches until the discovery of the 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, one basis of our systemic coaching. See also Quantum Thinking.

The I of Identity

Your subjective experience of your objective reality - your 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 past events. You live in a phase space.

Without the need to solve complex problems, there might be no human personalities. 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 such a society would be unable 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 limit your possible actions.

As complex systems can now be modeled with computers, chaos theory is widely applied in technology. Strangely, this is largely ignored by social scientists and helping professionals, for whom complexity remains hidden under pre-systemic assumptions of linearity and obsessions with statistics. Like chemical catalysts, human agents of change often resist changing themselves.

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.

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) impacts on your future.

Crisis provides motivation - not only 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. However, you are unlikely to find such innovative solutions on the logical pathways that you know well. You must be willing to step into chaos ... and we can accompany you.

Chaos Coaching

We often help people experience a strange attractor - integrity - by exploring their personal realities to find a profound sense of self. This journey often leads to a series of unusual experiences - which we often refer to as ecstatic states.

At the edge of chaos, when little makes sense and everything is possible, miracles can happen. But hoping for a miracle does not ensure survival. Survival requires endurance, a benefactor and transformation.  Survival often requires a change in identity that helps you manifest previously unimaginable solutions.

An edge of chaos perspective can be scary - and empowering. We help people create perturbations - imbalances which can bring them back into balance. With our chaos coaching we can help people explore the cutting edge of reality ... and the edge of chaos. We can accompany you as you restructure your identity and find systemic solutions for complex and chaotic problems.

Chaos Coaching - Part 2

Online Coaching & Mentorship

Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 1996-2012 All rights reserved. Soulwork Systemic Coaching was primarily developed by Martyn Carruthers
to help people dissolve emotional blocks and improve relationships to achieve their goals. These concepts and strategies are for general knowledge only. Consult a physician about medical conditions and before changing medical treatment. Don't steal intellectual property ... get permission to post, publish or teach Martyn's work.