CREATIVE FIELD NOTES: YOU Are The Cause Of The Effect

THE POWER PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE & EFFECT

Have you ever taken a progress picture before?
You know, those photos meant to track how well you’ve done over an extended period of time, only to be disappointed by what you saw? That was me a few days ago. I was like, WTF happened? I thought I was doing all the right things—working out, doing cardio, eating… better?

Then it clicked. What I was looking at was the effect—an accumulation of small, seemingly insignificant causes that I thought would go unnoticed.

You see, the principle of cause and effect is all around us, often starting in the mind. It describes events that, while appearing to occur by chance, are actually the result of one or more underlying laws.

Those little snacks I would grab from my mom’s counter? They were directly affecting my body. I thought they weren’t. We often say, "What’s one snack going to do?" or "I’m going to the gym later." But we need to understand—nothing happens by chance or luck. It’s cause and effect in your mental universe.

Take, for example, an argument with your significant other. They may feel it "came out of nowhere," but it didn’t. It’s the effect of many small causes—things you either chose to ignore or didn’t address when they happened. How many aspects of our lives could we improve if we understood the principle of cause and effect more deeply?

We’d likely address things immediately, in the moment. We’d change the oil on time, skip the soda, back up the hard drive (a big one for me—I’ve lost so many files in life from not backing up when I knew I should), and so many other things.

"Every Cause has its Effect, every Effect has its Cause; everything happens according to the Law; Chance is but a name for Law not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law."
– The Kybalion

This principle can help you slow down and choose how you respond, rather than just react. We should aim every day to be responsive, not reactive. It’s tough AF, I know—people will try you! But...

Reacting is a reflexive effect to a cause, with minimal thought or consideration.
Responding, on the other hand, involves intentional cause. You pause, assess the situation, and choose a thoughtful, measured action. A response is a carefully considered cause that leads to a more thoughtful and controlled effect.

This framework is also incredibly powerful in creativity.

Cause and Effect in Creative Potential

1. The Cause: Your inputs, habits, and environment. What you feed your mind, how you take care of your body, the time and energy you invest in your craft, and the mindset you cultivate—all serve as the causes for your creativity.

2. The Effect: Your creative output, the quality of your ideas, and the innovative work you produce are the effects that directly result from those causes. By carefully controlling and nurturing the inputs (causes), you can maximize your creative output (effect).

You get the picture. Let’s start applying the principle of cause and effect in all areas of our lives. You’ll thank yourself in the long run.

OUR LATEST SERIES “VIDEO DIARIES” ON YOUTUBE NOW.

Going on a journey of 100 episodes about business, life, and creativity