One of my sisters texted me the other night and said “I need you to do this math problem and tell me the answer. I’ll explain later.”  

She attached a picture of a scrap of paper with this handwritten on it:

3 (5+3+45) – 12 – 16 ÷ 8 x 3.14

I did the problem, sent her the answer, and went on with my night.  A couple minutes later she texted back. 

‘How?’

She had repeatedly worked out a different answer. The wrong answer.

She had not followed the correct order of operations.  

Part of the reason I’ve always loved math (yes, I said it – I LOVE math) is that there is an order. 

The order of operations in mathematics is important because it guarantees that people can all read and solve a problem in the same way.

The order of belts in Tae Kwon Do is important because, according to Steve in New Jersey, each belt builds on and incorporates the previous level’s knowledge and emphasis. 

The order in learning a new language is important because without knowing the alphabet and then the pronunciation and then a few basic sentence structures, the vocabulary and verb conjugation won’t be as accessible.  

And on and on and on. 

Mel Schwartz says, “In our lives, order suggests that we know the parameters of our experience, as though the boundaries and limits are determined in advance. 

The emotional and psychological highs and lows are familiar. 

The rules of relationship are understood. 

Knowing the range of our experiences provides a sense of order. As such, order creates a comfort zone as we can be assured of familiar terrain….”

The rest of that sentence?  

“…even if that familiarity doesn’t serve us.”

Even if that familiarity doesn’t serve us. Yikes.

His argument is that small or moderate doses of chaos can bring us to higher levels of personal evolution.

“Chaos suggests an absence of predictability. It triggers the unknown, which for most people is very problematic if not outright daunting. It is a venturing into uncertain territory,” far from the order most of us prefer. 

“The inclination to flee from chaos and return to order tends to stunt our growth, as it precludes vital new learning and experience. 

Although personal chaos can be very challenging and often feels threatening, the flip side is that it provides tremendous potential for personal evolution. 

Without accepting some degree of chaos, our lives become programmed in a deterministic way that precludes growth.”

Over the years I’ve become really good at programming and ordering my life in ways that probably have precluded growth just to avoid chaos.  But working on my own thoughts, and helping so many of you with yours, has helped me embrace Mr. Schwartz’s hypothesis.  

Even when things are uncertain. No. Especially when things are uncertain.

It has helped me with my own personal evolution and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I can’t wait to hear about how you’re learning to navigate some degree of chaos rather than shutting it down.  And if you need help benefitting from some of the rich rewards of that practice, I’d love to help. 

I can even help you with your math.