What happens when a single drop of water lands on the surface of a lake or pond? While small and seemingly insignificant compared to the body of water its entering, the drop has a cascading effect as it hits the surface. Starting as a small splash as the drop hits the surface of the water, a ripple is produced. From this ripple another ripple is formed, which is followed by additional ripples. What was barely noticeable, ripples outward, creating an impact far beyond and greater than the drop that started it. What do we call this? A ripple effect.

I have written about the power of the ripple effect in previous posts. I have shared how the impact of a single step, whether big or small, might make a difference far beyond what you could believe. I looked at it in the context of the Frutivera sweet corn farm in Nicaragua and how the choice to begin planting corn has had a ripple effect on many families, and has the potential to bring hope to many more. The potential ripple created by your willingness to take one step can reach far beyond the step itself.

This is a beautiful picture of the power of the ripple effect, but it is not the only one. Recently, the idea of a ripple effect came to mind in a different way.

Typically, a ripple effect is thought about as a singular event that moves outward to have far reaching impact. In fact, this is exactly the type of ripple effect I just described. However, that is not the only way to look at a ripple effect. Instead of focusing on the initial “splash”, what if we learned from the ripples themselves? Not sure what I mean? Let me explain.

It is a great exercise to reflect on the difference a single choice has made on our lives and the lives of those around us. It can be encouraging and energizing. As great as that is, it is not how we live lives on a daily basis. Instead, life is a series of daily choices that move us in one direction or another. Many are somewhat miniscule in the moment such as what to eat for breakfast or which shirt to wear to work. Others carry more weight such as what to say to a friend who is hurting. Whether big or small, one thing is certain: the choices keep coming.

The truth is, life continues moving forward. It is not a choice of whether or not life is coming but how we choose to live as it does. This can sound daunting and lead to “analysis by paralysis” if we are not careful (what if I make the wrong choice?), but it doesn’t have to. Instead we can decide not to allow our human propensity to make wrong choices keep us from seeing the opportunity to have a ripple effect through the way we decide to live each day. To say it another way, the way we choose live each day produces a ripple. As time passes, and days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become years, the ripples begin to add up. Through the accumulation of these tiny ripples, the impact of our life can be far reaching. The effect of the daily choice to make a ripple can be incredible.

What does this look like practically? It could be as simple as smiling at someone or holding the door for the person behind you. It could be choosing to help someone in a tough situation, even when it would be easy and normal to overlook them. It could be writing a note of encouragement for a friend who needs a little hope. The action itself does not need to be complicated. Ripples are created by the intentionality to make a choice each day to make someone else’s day better.

So what if you did that? What if we all did? What if we decided to make one choice a day to make someone else’s day better? You don’t have to turn your life upside down. Instead, you have to choose to take just one step each day that would make a difference in the life of someone else. How many ripples would that create and how far reaching and great would the impact be? I think the world we be a different place.

What if you did the same for yourself? What if you took one step each day to make a positive difference in your own life? What would the ripple effect be?

Whether it’s in the life of someone else or your own life, small ripples can have a big impact, especially when they add up over time. But it only takes one ripple to get started

What ripple will you make today? The effect of your small ripple could make a big difference.

James Belt

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