Last Tuesday morning my throat hurt. I pictured the tatami feel at 48,2°F and texted my sparring partner: “Let’s skip today.” On Thursday, he sent me the same message.
I'm sure if I hadn't skipped Tuesday, he wouldn't have skipped Thursday.
The Wilson–Kelling broken windows theory says there are no small violations of order. Rising crime is the result of them.
For years, my partner and I keep our ritual—twice a week jiu-jitsu training, then talk over good coffee.
Seems neural paths should have turned to highway. But skip once, worse two, and the ritual starts cracking at the seams. Jungle swallows asphalt fast.
Do we love jiu-jitsu? Is the gym close? Love coffee? Have things to talk about? Useful habit?
Answer to all: "Yes." And yet, how fragile the ritual, right?
The example shows a key idea—Chaos works against us constantly, no breaks, vacations, pauses. Like a trap, it waits as long as needed until our vigilance fades for a second.
Ritual is what protects us from the force of disorder. Knowing this, Chaos first tries to destroy the rite, the tradition, the canon.
Guard your rituals. They are patterns that sustain and renew life.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
Stuck? Your business grows when you do. I’m your business therapist to guide your shift. See testimonials here. Ready? Book your Catalyst session.