The Crux of Second-Order Effects

If you look at any marvel, or for that matter, anything that exists, it exists only because something else existed before it—a necessary predisposition for its existence. Without this antecedent, time branching would have ensured that our object of interest would not even be a matter of discussion or thought. This principle applies universally to all nouns: objects, people, places, and even ideas.

It turns out there is nothing truly original in the world; novelty is a hoax. The universe itself is not an original existence but rather an iteration of what preceded it and what it continues to evolve into, expanding for light years to come.

The existence of such a phenomenon makes it seem as though things around us are either pure accidents (random occurrences) or part of a perfectly planned sequence—a grand design not just for their own sake, but to give meaning to what came before and what is yet to come. This can manifest on scales big or small.

What seems depressing about second-order effects is the lack of control humans have over such randomness or perfectly planned perfections. In both cases, a mere human, or even billions working in perfect synchrony, have very little power to coordinate and shape outcomes—let alone decades or centuries in advance. Even planning minutes or moments in advance is nearly impossible except for simple, linear, one-dimensional outcomes, such as setting a timer to go off in 10 minutes (but if you consider it for a moment, even something as seemingly simple as setting a timer has time-branching sequences encoded within it, as each action and decision builds on countless preceding factors, creating a ripple effect beyond our immediate perception).

Second-order effects operate at molecular and subatomic levels. They are the juice that flows through the eternal river of creation, leading to places that neither end nor stop. What might appear as milestones from the outside are often just transient markers when searched and perceived mindfully. It’s not about one event but about a singularity, a collective intelligence at play, orchestrating everything in perfect alignment.

Is Everything Destiny?

This raises the question: Is everything just destiny? Perhaps. But nothing is mightier than the will of one. The will of one—good or bad—is like the will of a subatomic particle within the whole existence. The system is so beautifully designed that the transformative change the world so direly needs often starts with just one. Whether the accomplishment of this change lies in the hands of that individual, or whether the inception of the change itself was predestined, lies beyond the scope of human cognition. However, when you truly need something to happen and try with all your might, you step out of your mortal existence and connect with the greatness that flows within. It’s like plugging into a power source that rarely works—but when it does, it moves heaven and earth effortlessly, for it taps into the divine force that operates this existence.

“தெய்வத்தான் ஆகா தெனினுமு முயற்ஸிதன் மெய்வருத்தக் கூலி தரும்”
(Even though God be against, effort is bound to pay the wages of labor.)

The Bigger Picture

In summary, recognize that whatever we’re doing today and hoping to accomplish is not just our effort alone, but the culmination of generations of collective actions and needs—human or otherwise. Stand in awe of the workings of this magnificent planet and the broader universe we are part of. Most importantly, express gratitude for those who came before us, who set in motion the events necessary for us to do our part. Likewise, root for those who come after us, as they will carry forward what we begin, perhaps accomplishing it in ways we can scarcely imagine.

It reminds me of Isaac Newton’s wisdom when he said:

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Embrace the Infinite

Whatever you achieve, know that it is never the end. Things have and always will snowball for eternity. But you have the unique power to achieve what you desire, for you are not merely human. Now, go on and plug into that power source within—feel the elevation it brings and the greatness it unlocks.

-G Chola