thank you so much I’m excited and delighted to be here at Coconut Grove
delighted to be here at Coconut Grove
delighted to be here at Coconut Grove especially since the subject of this
especially since the subject of this
especially since the subject of this talk is Eureka and for me Eureka
talk is Eureka and for me Eureka
talk is Eureka and for me Eureka represents discovery and most
represents discovery and most
represents discovery and most importantly change and particularly of
importantly change and particularly of
importantly change and particularly of late I’ve been thinking a lot about how
late I’ve been thinking a lot about how
late I’ve been thinking a lot about how things change so you all know the story
things change so you all know the story
things change so you all know the story of Archimedes or at least most of you
of Archimedes or at least most of you
of Archimedes or at least most of you have this is the origin of the concept
have this is the origin of the concept
have this is the origin of the concept of Eureka our commedia same as’ ancient
of Eureka our commedia same as’ ancient
of Eureka our commedia same as’ ancient Greek inventor and he got stuck on this
Greek inventor and he got stuck on this
Greek inventor and he got stuck on this intractable problem and he couldn’t
intractable problem and he couldn’t
intractable problem and he couldn’t figure out the solution and he got
figure out the solution and he got
figure out the solution and he got frustrated but he was taking a bath
frustrated but he was taking a bath
frustrated but he was taking a bath probably to relieve all his frustrations
probably to relieve all his frustrations
probably to relieve all his frustrations and the solutions just suddenly
and the solutions just suddenly
and the solutions just suddenly presented it to him and he was so
presented it to him and he was so
presented it to him and he was so excited that he lept out of his bathtub
excited that he lept out of his bathtub
excited that he lept out of his bathtub and ran naked through the streets
and ran naked through the streets
and ran naked through the streets shouting Eureka I have found it and ever
shouting Eureka I have found it and ever
shouting Eureka I have found it and ever since we’ve actually associated this
since we’ve actually associated this
since we’ve actually associated this concept of Eureka that moment of
concept of Eureka that moment of
concept of Eureka that moment of transformation with change and to some
transformation with change and to some
transformation with change and to some extent that’s true but what I hope to
extent that’s true but what I hope to
extent that’s true but what I hope to convince you of in this talk is that
convince you of in this talk is that
convince you of in this talk is that that’s actually just the moment when we
that’s actually just the moment when we
that’s actually just the moment when we see the change but real change is
see the change but real change is
see the change but real change is actually a continuous process and in
actually a continuous process and in
actually a continuous process and in fact even though our committees was
fact even though our committees was
fact even though our committees was thought that he was like stuck and in a
thought that he was like stuck and in a
thought that he was like stuck and in a rut and not going anywhere
rut and not going anywhere
rut and not going anywhere change was actually happening bubbling
change was actually happening bubbling
change was actually happening bubbling below the surface all along I’m gonna
below the surface all along I’m gonna
below the surface all along I’m gonna give you an example of this that many of
give you an example of this that many of
give you an example of this that many of you may recognize anyone has ever had
you may recognize anyone has ever had
you may recognize anyone has ever had slow roasted pork but it’s succulent
slow roasted pork but it’s succulent
slow roasted pork but it’s succulent it’s delicious and last summer my
it’s delicious and last summer my
it’s delicious and last summer my husband decided that he wanted to try
husband decided that he wanted to try
husband decided that he wanted to try and make some it seems like a very very
and make some it seems like a very very
and make some it seems like a very very simple process
simple process
simple process you take a big hunk of pork shoulder and
you take a big hunk of pork shoulder and
you take a big hunk of pork shoulder and just stick it in your little egg you
just stick it in your little egg you
just stick it in your little egg you know for smoking and you just let it go
know for smoking and you just let it go
know for smoking and you just let it go at a low temperature for hours and hours
at a low temperature for hours and hours
at a low temperature for hours and hours until the internal meat temperature and
until the internal meat temperature and
until the internal meat temperature and your thermometer reaches a certain thing
your thermometer reaches a certain thing
your thermometer reaches a certain thing and then it’s done it shifts there’s a
and then it’s done it shifts there’s a
and then it’s done it shifts there’s a problem with this if you just sort of
problem with this if you just sort of
problem with this if you just sort of like leave it there after a couple of
like leave it there after a couple of
like leave it there after a couple of hours the temperature rises very nicely
hours the temperature rises very nicely
hours the temperature rises very nicely for two maybe three hours but then it
for two maybe three hours but then it
for two maybe three hours but then it just stops it stalls out in fact they
just stops it stalls out in fact they
just stops it stalls out in fact they actually call this the plateau or the
actually call this the plateau or the
actually call this the plateau or the stall or the zone and it will stay there
stall or the zone and it will stay there
stall or the zone and it will stay there for hours and hours and hours and your
for hours and hours and hours and your
for hours and hours and hours and your guests are hungry and they’re waiting
guests are hungry and they’re waiting
guests are hungry and they’re waiting and they’re wondering you know why they
and they’re wondering you know why they
and they’re wondering you know why they ever came over here for pork but when
ever came over here for pork but when
ever came over here for pork but when they could just have had pizza at home
they could just have had pizza at home
they could just have had pizza at home and the reason this happens is because
and the reason this happens is because
and the reason this happens is because there’s evaporation going on all the
there’s evaporation going on all the
there’s evaporation going on all the moisture in the meat is evaporating as
moisture in the meat is evaporating as
moisture in the meat is evaporating as it heats up and that’s countering the
it heats up and that’s countering the
it heats up and that’s countering the heating up process it’s releasing heat
heating up process it’s releasing heat
heating up process it’s releasing heat even as it’s getting heat from the
even as it’s getting heat from the
even as it’s getting heat from the slow-roasting and eventually that the
slow-roasting and eventually that the
slow-roasting and eventually that the it’ll-it’ll it’ll be done eventually the
it’ll-it’ll it’ll be done eventually the
it’ll-it’ll it’ll be done eventually the temperature start to rise again by then
temperature start to rise again by then
temperature start to rise again by then your pork is kind of all dried up and
your pork is kind of all dried up and
your pork is kind of all dried up and icky so what an experienced pitmaster
icky so what an experienced pitmaster
icky so what an experienced pitmaster will do is wrap that in tin foil after
will do is wrap that in tin foil after
will do is wrap that in tin foil after the first two or three hours and it
the first two or three hours and it
the first two or three hours and it traps all that moisture in and I’m about
traps all that moisture in and I’m about
traps all that moisture in and I’m about six to eight hours you get that moist
six to eight hours you get that moist
six to eight hours you get that moist juicy succulent pork butt that we all
juicy succulent pork butt that we all
juicy succulent pork butt that we all know and love so to me this is a very
know and love so to me this is a very
know and love so to me this is a very very good metaphor for how change
very good metaphor for how change
very good metaphor for how change happens because even though it looks
happens because even though it looks
happens because even though it looks like nothing is happening when you look
like nothing is happening when you look
like nothing is happening when you look at what’s happening there’s quite a bit
at what’s happening there’s quite a bit
at what’s happening there’s quite a bit going on all that evaporation all those
going on all that evaporation all those
going on all that evaporation all those heat molecules coming all that heat
heat molecules coming all that heat
heat molecules coming all that heat coming in so the change has been
coming in so the change has been
coming in so the change has been happening all along you’re not actually
happening all along you’re not actually
happening all along you’re not actually in a plateau it’s just that you’re not
in a plateau it’s just that you’re not
in a plateau it’s just that you’re not seeing it reflected in the temperature
seeing it reflected in the temperature
seeing it reflected in the temperature you’re measuring for change but it’s the
you’re measuring for change but it’s the
you’re measuring for change but it’s the wrong kind of change the change is
wrong kind of change the change is
wrong kind of change the change is happening all along
happening all along
happening all along what happens in the pork butt is exactly
what happens in the pork butt is exactly
what happens in the pork butt is exactly is basically an example of a phase
is basically an example of a phase
is basically an example of a phase transition and all meaningful change is
transition and all meaningful change is
transition and all meaningful change is a phase transition and note that I said
a phase transition and note that I said
a phase transition and note that I said meaningful change because things are
meaningful change because things are
meaningful change because things are actually changing around us all the time
actually changing around us all the time
actually changing around us all the time right
right
right just the planets moving around the Sun
just the planets moving around the Sun
just the planets moving around the Sun or changing position constantly when I
or changing position constantly when I
or changing position constantly when I talk about meaningful change I’m talking
talk about meaningful change I’m talking
talk about meaningful change I’m talking about what happens when a system changes
about what happens when a system changes
about what happens when a system changes its behavior the most common example of
its behavior the most common example of
its behavior the most common example of course that we can think of is water
course that we can think of is water
course that we can think of is water when water reaches a certain temperature
when water reaches a certain temperature
when water reaches a certain temperature and pressure it will either be so cold
and pressure it will either be so cold
and pressure it will either be so cold that it freezes into ice crystals or so
that it freezes into ice crystals or so
that it freezes into ice crystals or so hot that he evaporates into vapor and it
hot that he evaporates into vapor and it
hot that he evaporates into vapor and it changes into a gas phase and the moment
changes into a gas phase and the moment
changes into a gas phase and the moment when that happens is called the tipping
when that happens is called the tipping
when that happens is called the tipping point it’s That moment when it’s just
point it’s That moment when it’s just
point it’s That moment when it’s just about ready just perfectly poised right
about ready just perfectly poised right
about ready just perfectly poised right at the edge and ready to shift into a
at the edge and ready to shift into a
at the edge and ready to shift into a new phase and once again we focus a lot
new phase and once again we focus a lot
new phase and once again we focus a lot on the tipping point on that one moment
on the tipping point on that one moment
on the tipping point on that one moment of observable change but what actually
of observable change but what actually
of observable change but what actually it’s a slow continuous process the
it’s a slow continuous process the
it’s a slow continuous process the change has been occurring all along
change has been occurring all along
change has been occurring all along there’s been all these tiny interactions
there’s been all these tiny interactions
there’s been all these tiny interactions all these things going on at the surface
all these things going on at the surface
all these things going on at the surface and what happens is over time that
and what happens is over time that
and what happens is over time that reaches that l-let pressure builds and
reaches that l-let pressure builds and
reaches that l-let pressure builds and takes you to this critical point to the
takes you to this critical point to the
takes you to this critical point to the point where it’s ready finally to shift
point where it’s ready finally to shift
point where it’s ready finally to shift over into a phase nature love this phase
over into a phase nature love this phase
over into a phase nature love this phase transitions you
transitions you
transitions you them all around you one of my favorite
them all around you one of my favorite
them all around you one of my favorite examples is swarms and flocks bacteria
examples is swarms and flocks bacteria
examples is swarms and flocks bacteria for example can communicate but not when
for example can communicate but not when
for example can communicate but not when they’re too far apart if you’ve only got
they’re too far apart if you’ve only got
they’re too far apart if you’ve only got just a few bacteria in let you know on
just a few bacteria in let you know on
just a few bacteria in let you know on your little petri dish or whatever and
your little petri dish or whatever and
your little petri dish or whatever and you know they’re too far away they’re
you know they’re too far away they’re
you know they’re too far away they’re not thick enough they can’t really talk
not thick enough they can’t really talk
not thick enough they can’t really talk to each other but at some point if you
to each other but at some point if you
to each other but at some point if you keep piling them on there and you keep
keep piling them on there and you keep
keep piling them on there and you keep putting them closer and closer and
putting them closer and closer and
putting them closer and closer and closer together and you get up you reach
closer together and you get up you reach
closer together and you get up you reach a critical density a critical threshold
a critical density a critical threshold
a critical density a critical threshold a tipping point and at that point
a tipping point and at that point
a tipping point and at that point for example they start talking to each
for example they start talking to each
for example they start talking to each other and all of a sudden like as one
other and all of a sudden like as one
other and all of a sudden like as one they all start to fluoresce emit this
they all start to fluoresce emit this
they all start to fluoresce emit this like soft blue light because now they’ve
like soft blue light because now they’ve
like soft blue light because now they’ve become something different that become a
become something different that become a
become something different that become a collective organism and that
collective organism and that
collective organism and that fluorescence does not occur in the
fluorescence does not occur in the
fluorescence does not occur in the individual bacterium you see this an ant
individual bacterium you see this an ant
individual bacterium you see this an ant swarms with fire ants one little ant
swarms with fire ants one little ant
swarms with fire ants one little ant doesn’t really do much it does this
doesn’t really do much it does this
doesn’t really do much it does this little job you know it follows its rules
little job you know it follows its rules
little job you know it follows its rules it moves around along with the swarm but
it moves around along with the swarm but
it moves around along with the swarm but you get a whole swarm of ants together
you get a whole swarm of ants together
you get a whole swarm of ants together and they suddenly become this collective
and they suddenly become this collective
and they suddenly become this collective organism and they can do amazing things
organism and they can do amazing things
organism and they can do amazing things suddenly it’s not individual ants moving
suddenly it’s not individual ants moving
suddenly it’s not individual ants moving along randomly they’re coordinating it
along randomly they’re coordinating it
along randomly they’re coordinating it coordinating their efforts they are
coordinating their efforts they are
coordinating their efforts they are building towers and rafts and the great
building towers and rafts and the great
building towers and rafts and the great thing about it is you can take out a few
thing about it is you can take out a few
thing about it is you can take out a few of those ants and it won’t change
of those ants and it won’t change
of those ants and it won’t change anything the organism will still be
anything the organism will still be
anything the organism will still be robust and will still be able to do that
robust and will still be able to do that
robust and will still be able to do that swarms of Fox murmuration zuv starlings
swarms of Fox murmuration zuv starlings
swarms of Fox murmuration zuv starlings again you get enough of them in
again you get enough of them in
again you get enough of them in sufficient critical density it’s like
sufficient critical density it’s like
sufficient critical density it’s like the signal goes through and they
the signal goes through and they
the signal goes through and they suddenly begin to swarm and create these
suddenly begin to swarm and create these
suddenly begin to swarm and create these beautiful patterns in the air and again
beautiful patterns in the air and again
beautiful patterns in the air and again very robust few starlings fall out those
very robust few starlings fall out those
very robust few starlings fall out those patterns can still go on the reason that
patterns can still go on the reason that
patterns can still go on the reason that scientists like to study swarms one of
scientists like to study swarms one of
scientists like to study swarms one of them is that it might give us some ideas
them is that it might give us some ideas
them is that it might give us some ideas to how to make our own complex networks
to how to make our own complex networks
to how to make our own complex networks more robust because we have them we have
more robust because we have them we have
more robust because we have them we have power grids we have stock market we have
power grids we have stock market we have
power grids we have stock market we have the social media these all seem very
the social media these all seem very
the social media these all seem very very different on the surface but
very different on the surface but
very different on the surface but fundamentally what you have is billions
fundamentally what you have is billions
fundamentally what you have is billions of little individual units all talking
of little individual units all talking
of little individual units all talking to each other with a few long-range
to each other with a few long-range
to each other with a few long-range connections tying the whole thing
connections tying the whole thing
connections tying the whole thing together so that you get this very nice
together so that you get this very nice
together so that you get this very nice complex network and it’s fabulous but
complex network and it’s fabulous but
complex network and it’s fabulous but the problem is they’re a little bit more
the problem is they’re a little bit more
the problem is they’re a little bit more prone to failure a stock market collapse
prone to failure a stock market collapse
prone to failure a stock market collapse for example a power grid outage we all
for example a power grid outage we all
for example a power grid outage we all know what happens to the airline
know what happens to the airline
know what happens to the airline when Chicago shuts down because of a
when Chicago shuts down because of a
when Chicago shuts down because of a winter storm like it just chaos
winter storm like it just chaos
winter storm like it just chaos everywhere and it’s because the system
everywhere and it’s because the system
everywhere and it’s because the system is so delicate and so sensitive that a
is so delicate and so sensitive that a
is so delicate and so sensitive that a tiny little thing can affect it so why
tiny little thing can affect it so why
tiny little thing can affect it so why is that and the reason is it’s actually
is that and the reason is it’s actually
is that and the reason is it’s actually not in one phase or another it’s
not in one phase or another it’s
not in one phase or another it’s delicately poised at say at the tipping
delicately poised at say at the tipping
delicately poised at say at the tipping point or near the tipping point and that
point or near the tipping point and that
point or near the tipping point and that can be a remarkably stable and efficient
can be a remarkably stable and efficient
can be a remarkably stable and efficient place to be for a network but it also
place to be for a network but it also
place to be for a network but it also makes it vulnerable so what you need is
makes it vulnerable so what you need is
makes it vulnerable so what you need is some kind of mechanism to release that
some kind of mechanism to release that
some kind of mechanism to release that pressure occasionally every now and then
pressure occasionally every now and then
pressure occasionally every now and then so that the system can kind of stay
so that the system can kind of stay
so that the system can kind of stay balanced and poised there in this
balanced and poised there in this
balanced and poised there in this precarious position and just do its job
precarious position and just do its job
precarious position and just do its job and it turns out that nature again may
and it turns out that nature again may
and it turns out that nature again may have given us a key to that the human
have given us a key to that the human
have given us a key to that the human brain is a marvel of evolutionary
brain is a marvel of evolutionary
brain is a marvel of evolutionary progress it’s again it’s a complex
progress it’s again it’s a complex
progress it’s again it’s a complex network you have billions of individual
network you have billions of individual
network you have billions of individual neurons and they’re all internet2
neurons and they’re all internet2
neurons and they’re all internet2 interconnected and talking to each other
interconnected and talking to each other
interconnected and talking to each other you’ve got some local clusters in each
you’ve got some local clusters in each
you’ve got some local clusters in each region of the brain and you’ve got these
region of the brain and you’ve got these
region of the brain and you’ve got these longer-range connections of white matter
longer-range connections of white matter
longer-range connections of white matter that are really key to type tying the
that are really key to type tying the
that are really key to type tying the whole brain together and the brain is
whole brain together and the brain is
whole brain together and the brain is remarkably robust and functional and
remarkably robust and functional and
remarkably robust and functional and there’s growing scientific evidence that
there’s growing scientific evidence that
there’s growing scientific evidence that in fact the reason this is so is because
in fact the reason this is so is because
in fact the reason this is so is because it’s perfectly poised near the critical
it’s perfectly poised near the critical
it’s perfectly poised near the critical point without ever going over unless of
point without ever going over unless of
point without ever going over unless of course you have an epileptic seizure for
course you have an epileptic seizure for
course you have an epileptic seizure for example and it makes sense because it’s
example and it makes sense because it’s
example and it makes sense because it’s a sweet spot right if your brain is too
a sweet spot right if your brain is too
a sweet spot right if your brain is too rigid then you’re it’s not going to be
rigid then you’re it’s not going to be
rigid then you’re it’s not going to be able to adapt changing conditions and if
able to adapt changing conditions and if
able to adapt changing conditions and if it’s too random and chaotic it’s – all
it’s too random and chaotic it’s – all
it’s too random and chaotic it’s – all the neurons are just going to fire
the neurons are just going to fire
the neurons are just going to fire randomly and you’re gonna have an
randomly and you’re gonna have an
randomly and you’re gonna have an epileptic seizure so a brain that is not
epileptic seizure so a brain that is not
epileptic seizure so a brain that is not critical in the words of the
critical in the words of the
critical in the words of the neuroscientist Dante salvo is that is
neuroscientist Dante salvo is that is
neuroscientist Dante salvo is that is the brain of an idiot so how does the
the brain of an idiot so how does the
the brain of an idiot so how does the brain do this and the secret is in tiny
brain do this and the secret is in tiny
brain do this and the secret is in tiny avalanches if you think of a sand pile
avalanches if you think of a sand pile
avalanches if you think of a sand pile and you think of what happens as all in
and you think of what happens as all in
and you think of what happens as all in an hourglass that the sand pours through
an hourglass that the sand pours through
an hourglass that the sand pours through it sort of builds up doesn’t it as each
it sort of builds up doesn’t it as each
it sort of builds up doesn’t it as each little grain falls down it builds up and
little grain falls down it builds up and
little grain falls down it builds up and up up and up and it gets narrower and
up up and up and it gets narrower and
up up and up and it gets narrower and narrower and after a certain point it’s
narrower and after a certain point it’s
narrower and after a certain point it’s so narrow at the top that it can’t
so narrow at the top that it can’t
so narrow at the top that it can’t support the weight of even one more
support the weight of even one more
support the weight of even one more grain of sand so the very next grain of
grain of sand so the very next grain of
grain of sand so the very next grain of sand that falls you see this massive
sand that falls you see this massive
sand that falls you see this massive avalanche and it collapses and the base
avalanche and it collapses and the base
avalanche and it collapses and the base expands and it starts that process all
expands and it starts that process all
expands and it starts that process all over again
over again
over again that’s a little bit similar to what’s
that’s a little bit similar to what’s
that’s a little bit similar to what’s going on in the brain except instead of
going on in the brain except instead of
going on in the brain except instead of massive catastrophic avalanches what’s
massive catastrophic avalanches what’s
massive catastrophic avalanches what’s happening scientists have found is that
happening scientists have found is that
happening scientists have found is that there’s some little electrical tiny
there’s some little electrical tiny
there’s some little electrical tiny little electrical Cascades tiny little
little electrical Cascades tiny little
little electrical Cascades tiny little avalanches that are kind of relieving
avalanches that are kind of relieving
avalanches that are kind of relieving the pressure so that the brain can build
the pressure so that the brain can build
the pressure so that the brain can build up again and then relieve the pressure
up again and then relieve the pressure
up again and then relieve the pressure and build up again and it’s just enough
and build up again and it’s just enough
and build up again and it’s just enough to keep it poised right there at the
to keep it poised right there at the
to keep it poised right there at the critical point so why am I telling all
critical point so why am I telling all
critical point so why am I telling all this that’s because this is not just
this that’s because this is not just
this that’s because this is not just really you know limited to physical
really you know limited to physical
really you know limited to physical symptoms Systems change actually the
symptoms Systems change actually the
symptoms Systems change actually the phase transition metaphor for change
phase transition metaphor for change
phase transition metaphor for change actually works for social systems for
actually works for social systems for
actually works for social systems for economic change if you think about
economic change if you think about
economic change if you think about changes in collective public opinion the
changes in collective public opinion the
changes in collective public opinion the civil rights movement for a long time I
civil rights movement for a long time I
civil rights movement for a long time I think during the civil rights movement
think during the civil rights movement
think during the civil rights movement people thought that nothing they did
people thought that nothing they did
people thought that nothing they did matter that the change would never come
matter that the change would never come
matter that the change would never come that no one was ever going to be able to
that no one was ever going to be able to
that no one was ever going to be able to make a big enough difference for to see
make a big enough difference for to see
make a big enough difference for to see a really sweeping transformative change
a really sweeping transformative change
a really sweeping transformative change in our society but it was still going on
in our society but it was still going on
in our society but it was still going on along the surface and while Rosa Parks
along the surface and while Rosa Parks
along the surface and while Rosa Parks may have become a symbol you know of
may have become a symbol you know of
may have become a symbol you know of with her with her bus sit-in of this
with her with her bus sit-in of this
with her with her bus sit-in of this transformative change she was just that
transformative change she was just that
transformative change she was just that final grain of sand right that brought
final grain of sand right that brought
final grain of sand right that brought about the transformative change and
about the transformative change and
about the transformative change and we’re still seeing that today we saw it
we’re still seeing that today we saw it
we’re still seeing that today we saw it recently in the last 10 years with
recently in the last 10 years with
recently in the last 10 years with attitudes in the public towards gay
attitudes in the public towards gay
attitudes in the public towards gay marriage people at you know people were
marriage people at you know people were
marriage people at you know people were kind of against it didn’t really like it
kind of against it didn’t really like it
kind of against it didn’t really like it hats didn’t have you know it had strong
hats didn’t have you know it had strong
hats didn’t have you know it had strong feelings about it and just nothing
feelings about it and just nothing
feelings about it and just nothing seemed to budge for years and years and
seemed to budge for years and years and
seemed to budge for years and years and years and years and all of a sudden last
years and years and all of a sudden last
years and years and all of a sudden last few years it’s just like something
few years it’s just like something
few years it’s just like something snapped and we saw suddenly people
snapped and we saw suddenly people
snapped and we saw suddenly people thought you know what this is fine this
thought you know what this is fine this
thought you know what this is fine this is OK and we’re seeing it even more more
is OK and we’re seeing it even more more
is OK and we’re seeing it even more more recently with the attitudes towards
recently with the attitudes towards
recently with the attitudes towards legalization of marijuana this is a
legalization of marijuana this is a
legalization of marijuana this is a collective shift in public opinion and
collective shift in public opinion and
collective shift in public opinion and it’s not down to any one individual it’s
it’s not down to any one individual it’s
it’s not down to any one individual it’s down to this process that’s happening
down to this process that’s happening
down to this process that’s happening because we’re all interconnected to each
because we’re all interconnected to each
because we’re all interconnected to each other and talking to each other and this
other and talking to each other and this
other and talking to each other and this also works with an individual in my
also works with an individual in my
also works with an individual in my opinion there’s something in psychology
opinion there’s something in psychology
opinion there’s something in psychology called an effective tipping point and it
called an effective tipping point and it
called an effective tipping point and it describes that point in a person’s life
describes that point in a person’s life
describes that point in a person’s life where they are primed and ready for
where they are primed and ready for
where they are primed and ready for change and this is actually an unusual
change and this is actually an unusual
change and this is actually an unusual State for human beings to be in because
State for human beings to be in because
State for human beings to be in because let’s face it we all like to be in our
let’s face it we all like to be in our
let’s face it we all like to be in our nice cozy comfortable phase we actually
nice cozy comfortable phase we actually
nice cozy comfortable phase we actually resist change
resist change
resist change I’m sure many of you are aware of
I’m sure many of you are aware of
I’m sure many of you are aware of something called the backfire effect and
something called the backfire effect and
something called the backfire effect and this is when you have a core belief not
this is when you have a core belief not
this is when you have a core belief not just an opinion but something that is so
just an opinion but something that is so
just an opinion but something that is so core and essential to your identity that
core and essential to your identity that
core and essential to your identity that you can’t stand for it to be challenged
you can’t stand for it to be challenged
you can’t stand for it to be challenged and if someone hits you with an
and if someone hits you with an
and if someone hits you with an indisputable fact that challenges that
indisputable fact that challenges that
indisputable fact that challenges that core belief you’re probably not going to
core belief you’re probably not going to
core belief you’re probably not going to accept that fact you’re going to double
accept that fact you’re going to double
accept that fact you’re going to double and triple down and reject it and find
and triple down and reject it and find
and triple down and reject it and find some way why that can’t possibly be true
some way why that can’t possibly be true
some way why that can’t possibly be true and we see this over and over again and
and we see this over and over again and
and we see this over and over again and it is the bane of science communicators
it is the bane of science communicators
it is the bane of science communicators everywhere which I am one because how do
everywhere which I am one because how do
everywhere which I am one because how do you change an individual mind if they
you change an individual mind if they
you change an individual mind if they won’t even accept the facts and the
won’t even accept the facts and the
won’t even accept the facts and the truth is people do change their minds
truth is people do change their minds
truth is people do change their minds it’s just that it may not happen in that
it’s just that it may not happen in that
it’s just that it may not happen in that very moment it’s a process it’s not a
very moment it’s a process it’s not a
very moment it’s a process it’s not a moment a person is we are all of some of
moment a person is we are all of some of
moment a person is we are all of some of our experiences right our interactions
our experiences right our interactions
our experiences right our interactions our connections with each other we get
our connections with each other we get
our connections with each other we get all this information in from all over
all this information in from all over
all this information in from all over the books we read the people we interact
the books we read the people we interact
the books we read the people we interact with the facts that we get the news we
with the facts that we get the news we
with the facts that we get the news we watch all of these things feed into who
watch all of these things feed into who
watch all of these things feed into who we are our experiences the choices we
we are our experiences the choices we
we are our experiences the choices we make and over time occasionally we will
make and over time occasionally we will
make and over time occasionally we will get to this point where we are a little
get to this point where we are a little
get to this point where we are a little uncomfortable a little unsure of
uncomfortable a little unsure of
uncomfortable a little unsure of something that we might be previously
something that we might be previously
something that we might be previously held to be a core belief and that’s when
held to be a core belief and that’s when
held to be a core belief and that’s when we’re primed and we’re ready and the
we’re primed and we’re ready and the
we’re primed and we’re ready and the next person will be that that final
next person will be that that final
next person will be that that final grain of sand that will come in and show
grain of sand that will come in and show
grain of sand that will come in and show that same fact and maybe you’ve seen
that same fact and maybe you’ve seen
that same fact and maybe you’ve seen that fact a few other times before but
that fact a few other times before but
that fact a few other times before but this time you’re ready for it and you
this time you’re ready for it and you
this time you’re ready for it and you respond and to me that’s an interesting
respond and to me that’s an interesting
respond and to me that’s an interesting life lesson because of course our lives
life lesson because of course our lives
life lesson because of course our lives are essentially a series of phase
are essentially a series of phase
are essentially a series of phase transitions small and minor we go
transitions small and minor we go
transitions small and minor we go through life we form relationships we
through life we form relationships we
through life we form relationships we have all these experiences and every now
have all these experiences and every now
have all these experiences and every now and then we get to a point where
and then we get to a point where
and then we get to a point where something has to change and it may not
something has to change and it may not
something has to change and it may not be all that comfortable in fact usually
be all that comfortable in fact usually
be all that comfortable in fact usually when you’re at the critical point it’s a
when you’re at the critical point it’s a
when you’re at the critical point it’s a little uncomfortable because you’ve got
little uncomfortable because you’ve got
little uncomfortable because you’ve got one foot in either phase and you don’t
one foot in either phase and you don’t
one foot in either phase and you don’t you don’t want to change you resist it
you don’t want to change you resist it
you don’t want to change you resist it but those changes are going to happen
but those changes are going to happen
but those changes are going to happen and sometimes they’ll be this wonderful
and sometimes they’ll be this wonderful
and sometimes they’ll be this wonderful transformative Eureka moments sometimes
transformative Eureka moments sometimes
transformative Eureka moments sometimes they’ll be devastating catastrophic
they’ll be devastating catastrophic
they’ll be devastating catastrophic collapses sometimes they’ll be just a
collapses sometimes they’ll be just a
collapses sometimes they’ll be just a lot of little things in between but no
lot of little things in between but no
lot of little things in between but no matter what they are they represent a
matter what they are they represent a
matter what they are they represent a progress movement forward changing from
progress movement forward changing from
progress movement forward changing from one phase to another and in that sense
one phase to another and in that sense
one phase to another and in that sense they should be welcomed
they should be welcomed
they should be welcomed so that’s kind of the message that I
so that’s kind of the message that I
so that’s kind of the message that I want to leave you here with tonight is
want to leave you here with tonight is
want to leave you here with tonight is that learn to embrace the plateau don’t
that learn to embrace the plateau don’t
that learn to embrace the plateau don’t be afraid of it don’t get frustrated
be afraid of it don’t get frustrated
be afraid of it don’t get frustrated when nothing seems to be working and
when nothing seems to be working and
when nothing seems to be working and you’re frustrating you think this is
you’re frustrating you think this is
you’re frustrating you think this is useless I should just give up I should
useless I should just give up I should
useless I should just give up I should not do this remember that actually the
not do this remember that actually the
not do this remember that actually the change is happening just because you
change is happening just because you
change is happening just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that the
can’t see it doesn’t mean that the
can’t see it doesn’t mean that the change isn’t happening this is all part
change isn’t happening this is all part
change isn’t happening this is all part of that slow continuous process and
of that slow continuous process and
of that slow continuous process and eventually you will get to that critical
eventually you will get to that critical
eventually you will get to that critical tipping point and the other thing I
tipping point and the other thing I
tipping point and the other thing I would leave you with is that it’s
would leave you with is that it’s
would leave you with is that it’s important to make yourself comfortable
important to make yourself comfortable
important to make yourself comfortable with the discomfort of being in this
with the discomfort of being in this
with the discomfort of being in this crate being near the critical point
crate being near the critical point
crate being near the critical point challenge yourselves don’t just keep
challenge yourselves don’t just keep
challenge yourselves don’t just keep your interactions local reach out to new
your interactions local reach out to new
your interactions local reach out to new ideas and new people and people who
ideas and new people and people who
ideas and new people and people who might not ever ever encounter normally
might not ever ever encounter normally
might not ever ever encounter normally because that is how you actually get to
because that is how you actually get to
because that is how you actually get to the critical point and that actually
the critical point and that actually
the critical point and that actually will bring you to the to the moment of
will bring you to the to the moment of
will bring you to the to the moment of change and take you to an exciting new
change and take you to an exciting new
change and take you to an exciting new phase and to me a critical life is one
phase and to me a critical life is one
phase and to me a critical life is one marked by these moments of profound
marked by these moments of profound
marked by these moments of profound progress and personal growth and that to
progress and personal growth and that to
progress and personal growth and that to me is a life worth living thank you
me is a life worth living thank you
me is a life worth living thank you [Applause]
”
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