The document discusses Dr. Jean Houston's fractal theory, which proposes that patterns in nature and society often repeat themselves at different scales. It provides examples like coastline patterns repeating in coastal mountains, and vascular branching repeating in stellar structures. The theory suggests looking for repeating patterns in one's own life experiences across different life stages in order to understand oneself better. The document then guides doing an exercise where one draws concentric circles representing different life periods and maps experiences within them to identify personal fractal patterns.

1. The ‘Fractal’ Theory
Dr. Jean Houston

2. This time, like all times, is a good one if we
know what to do with it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Food for thought

3. Fractal Theory
Dr. Jean Houston
 Fractal Waves
 Fractals are repetitions of the same pattern, even in the same
details in both the ascending and descending scales
 Coastline versus coastal mountains
 Vascular system: vein / artery branching
 Atomic structure versus stellar structure
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Power of ten

4.  Fractal Waves
 Repetitions in the history of a people / race
 Order arising out of chaos and heat: hot plasma of charged
particles at the creation of the earth
 Hot plasma of charged nations and people today: new orders
in society
 Bonding of the universe at atomic level as a result of heat.
 Bonding at individual level as a result of shared history of
difficult times
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Fractal Theory
Dr. Jean Houston

5.  So what does it mean for us?
 Our dichotomies: Old order versus the new wave, sureness
versus the unknown
 Sanctifying of stupidity versus trying new methods
 Traditional ways of progress versus leveraging learning in
unrelated areas
 Studying our patterns helps us see what we did to deal with
change and what we need to do today
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Fractal Theory
Dr. Jean Houston

6.  Think of an experience of your earliest childhood:
something you may not have thought of for a long time
1. Draw a small wavy circle in the middle of your sheet and
draw this incident inside the circle.
2. Then draw another circle around the first and draw incidents
in it from later years, as your mind begins to see the patterns.
3. As the past coalesces into the present, draw the patterns in
your life currently, in the form of current events.
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Drawing Fractals – Stage 1

7. 7
Sample Chart

8. Drawing Fractals – Stage 2
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 Find a partner – and share what you have
discovered about your fractal patterns
 Have a conversation where you help one another see
new patterns that you may not have seen by yourself
 If some information is private, you need not share it
 Especially identify the thresholds and places of
‘Movement’ in your life. The decisions and actions you
took that led to your development.

9. ‘Master’ or ‘Victim’
Stances of Success

10. Window of Opportunity
 In the life of every man and woman comes a time
when they have a unique opportunity to make an
impact and influence others.
 To succeed we need to anticipate, prepare and act
with courage when it opens
The window remains open only for a time

11.  Living life is about making choices:
 Choosing to be a “Victim”
 Or choosing to be a “Master”
 Both stances are subject to the same givens of society,
environment, organization etc.
 But have very different implications in terms of your
development and happiness
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The time to choose is NOW
The Essential Truth

12. Distinguishing features
Victims
1. Whine about what
happened
2. Think of excuses
3. Blame others
4. Lose hope & give up
5. Perish
Masters
1. Say, “What can I do?”
2. Think of solutions
3. Own responsibility
4. Have courage to try new
ways
5. Win, even if they fail
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Possible only for those serious about success

14. Price of My success?
 In terms of the challenges that I face today, what
do I need to do if I want to be a ‘Master’ and not a
‘Victim’?
 What is the investment in myself that I need to
make in order to succeed?
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Clarity about reward, sustains effort
10 minutes

15. 15

16. I x U = R
2 x 4 = 6
My action (Your reaction) = Result
We can get whatever result we want by changing our
action
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Development is a product of thought, not time

17. Life is Math
 Think of any interaction as an equation
 It has two sides which produce the outcome
 What happens on either side affects the outcome
 We control only one side, but….
 We can choose whatever outcome we want
 Being proactive is to try to affect both sides
 Being proactive is about sustained effort
 It is about building a reputation of integrity
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18. Maximize ROI
 What is our investment and what is the return?
 What did we gain and what did we lose?
 When you said ‘Yes’, what did you say ‘No’ to?
Return depends on investment but even
more on the multiplier

21. AM
Ideas
Beliefs Dreams
Values
GET
Power
Friends Reward
Fame
DO
Actions
Speech Stances
Writing

22. Am – Do – Get
 Relationships are based on words.
 Words are indicators of mental models and attitudes.
 When words are changed the attitudes behind them
change as well.
 And new ways of relating reveal themselves
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Who I Am influences what I Do,
which determines what I Get

23. Food for thought
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not
dare. It is because we do not dare that they are
difficult.” ~ Seneca
The reasonable man adapts himself to the situation.
The unreasonable man tries to change the situation
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
~George Bernard Shaw

24. Tool
 Imagine that you are listening to your own farewell
speech being delivered by someone who has
worked with you, for many years and knows you
very well.
 What would you like to hear?
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25. Drawing Fractals – Stage 1
 When you finish drawing, sit back in silence and reflect:
 What is the optimal future that you see emerging for
yourself?
 What signals for action are you getting from looking at your
own life story?
 What patterns are positive and what do you need to stop doing?
 What other messages are you getting from your drawing?
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26. Reflection
Start Stop Continue

27. SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
Self
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