#2 The power of fractals: patterns to create change

Fractals, positive loops and shadows, conscious intent

“How we are at the small scale is how we are at the large scale… There is a structural echo” Adrienne Maree Brown

This gently fuzzy succulent (known as ‘donkey ear’) grows voraciously in my Kigali garden. Its babies sprout from the end of its largest leaves, and lay down roots in new places. The babies are versions of the large plant, on a tiny scale. They are fractals.

I love the concept of fractals, and use it often in my work. 

And, writing this, I notice I want to be intentional about using the idea more intentionally in my life.

Framing fractals

Fractals are described by Adrienne Maree Brown as being self similar at multiple scales.

I am a fractal of my family, my community, my society.

I’m shaped by the whole. I  embody the (often silent) lessons I’ve been taught at a miniature scale. 

AND, as a fractal, a part, I can influence the context I’m placed in. 

My children (for all their uniqueness and transcontextuality) are shaped by our family, and they influence and shape us. How we are, together, at a small scale influences how they show up in the world. And that shapes the world they create.

Fractal gif triangle - showing how the whole is made up from the interaction of many small triangles. Thanks to Karolina Iwa for generously sharing :)

 

Loops of possibility

This circularity is beautiful, and creates wonderful opportunities for change. 

What we do at the small scale influences the large scale. Then, what happens at a larger scale influences us. 

The Ghandi quote ‘be the change you want to see in the world’ is understood anew from this perspective. 

Adrienne Maree Brown says ‘transform yourself to transform the world’.

Shadow patterns

Of course, not all patterns across scales are positive.

There’s a shadow side.

When pain, trauma and grief live in us, they shape the systems around us. 

And when these are alive in the larger fractals they shape us. 

Perhaps you’ve been in an organisation where you accidentally fell into the same pattern of over-work of your colleagues. Or found the heaviness of the world to shape your emotions. 

Conscious intent

Being aware of fractals, then, is powerful.

Fractals can encourage us to be intentional  in how we show up. 

What are we modelling which shapes those around us? How are relationships (or what’s going on around us) shaping us?

Karen O’Brien (who’s written an incredible book on quantum social change) describes how, when our actions are consistent with our values, we’ll create new patterns across scales.

"Fractal approaches to scaling transformative responses.. recognize that the future is generated in the day by day, word by word, conversation by conversation and action by action" (Karen O’Brien)

I notice I’m not expressing my value of love when I struggle to pay attention at dinner after a long day of work. What small expression of love can I demonstrate to stay true to my values? In what small way will this breed more attention and love in the world?

Organisational fractals for systemic change

I often work with organisations that want to embrace systems thinking or systems innovation. They want to create more systemic transformation in the world, so I use the idea of fractals to help them think about the similar changes they need inside their organisation to get there. For example:

• If we believe radical collaboration is important in creating change, how can we practice it inside the organisation? 

• If we want teams to create opportunities for emergence how can we make sure internal systems allow (and encourage) that?

• If we believe creative responses are important, how can we resist squashing it for productivity and efficiency?

The next small thing:

I have to use my life to leverage a shift in the system by how I am, as much as the things I do (Adrienne Maree Brown)

I wonder what small thing you can do this week to lean into fractals?

• What are YOUR big values? How do you want the world to be?

  • What small way can you practise that today? At work? At home?

• Are there ways what you’ve done (or how you’ve shown up) this week are not consistent with your values?

• How has what you’ve done (and how you’ve showed up) today been shaped by expectations and norms around you?

As ever, I’d love to know your thoughts!