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I love the experience of standing on a dock by a pond when the water is so still it reflects everything around it like a freshly cleaned mirror. Then, I take a rock, it doesn’t need to be a large one, and toss it high in the air and watch it land. From that center, ripples start to spread in perfectly formed circles, one after the other, and reach out further and further, until the appearance of the whole pond is transformed by that one rock.

Like that rock thrown into a pond, our thoughts, habits, and actions create a ripple effect extending far beyond what is immediately apparent. One good discipline permeates other areas of our lives. For instance, when we exercise regularly, we tend to eat better, sleep better, and generally feel better about ourselves, which makes us more pleasant to be around. One act of kindness spreads in unforeseen ways, affecting other people we may not have even considered. Conversely, a harsh response gives rise to hurt that far outlasts the moment.

I have learned two truths about the ripple effect. One, the ripples of our actions travel much further than we imagine. What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. Two, we don’t operate in silos. How we act at work affects how we live at home. How we behave in private ripples to who we are in public.

Once we understand the ripple effect, we can leverage it to our benefit. Consider the following ripples:

  • Making the time for an additional 30 minutes of quiet each morning. That little bit of space infuses the rest of the day with the proper perspective.
  • Planning a time to reflect on the upcoming year. One extended time of thoughtful reflection shapes the trajectory of a full year.
  • Deciding to keep your smartphone in another room during meals. Distracted conversations become engaging encounters that last much longer than the latest tweet.
  • Watching one less hour of TV and reading a book instead. Trade a little less wasted time for a relaxing, enriching experience (depending on the book!).
  • Deciding to become a mentor or to mentor someone else. Someone you mentor today may change the world tomorrow. Choosing to be mentored may change you for a lifetime.
  • Beginning a regular coffee, breakfast, or lunch with a new friend. One relationship grown week by week sows seeds of joy for years to come.
  • Starting a new routine of exercise. Our health directly impacts every other aspect of our lives. An investment in health is an investment in life.
  • Beginning a regular habit of financial giving. Money has a way of capturing our heart. In giving, we loosen the hold that money has on us while also helping others who desperately need a hand.
  • Taking one day off each week from doing just to relax, refresh, and be with those we love.In practicing “sabbath” we create a balance that not only refreshes us but also makes us more productive the other six days.

How do you see the ripple effect operating in your life?

Join the discussion 4 Comments

  • “What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas”…..thanks for speaking this truth. What we do in “private” is never private.

  • Fred Larmore says:

    Great post, Tommy. I’ll bet the ripple effect even takes place when the water is frozen, a rock penetrates the surface, and we cannot even see the ripples. Taking action can make things happen. The key is taking action. Sticking to biblical positions in the face of lies, deception, and rejection can eventually make a difference. I have seen it happen.

    • I love that image of the frozen lake… and the ripple effect. Isn’t that what we deeply long for, to have the frozen places of our lives ripple to life?

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