The flap of a butterfly’s wings would suffice to cause a hurricane elsewhere. A decision you once made could alter the course for so many around you. History is testimony to that. Every action has caused a ripple in the chronology of things. Some were big enough to alter the world we live in forever. What does it take to make a decision like that?
Here are some historical people whose decisions changed the world and the course of humanity forever.
Christopher Columbus (Had a high risk appetite)
Christopher Columbus, one of Europe’s first navigators made one decision that changed the face of the Americas and the world. In 1492, his understanding of the sea currents and wind patterns, backed by his experience, led him to believe that he could find a new route to Asia’s spices. This would be revolutionary since all the crucial spice routes were controlled by Muslim rulers. The decision to sail was met with skepticism but he persevered, even convincing the monarchs to invest in his expedition.
He helped solve a political problem in a way he knew how to. He was confident it would work, because it was backed by knowledge and experience. And that one decision changed the course of humanity forever.
Nelson Mandela (Chose forgiveness)
History’s many important decisions are always lined with some intuition. Nelson Mandela – a lawyer from Johannesburg – became South Africa’s first black president. Why him and not the many revolutionaries that fought alongside? The answer could lie in the fact that he decided to forgive and reconcile. Once he was out of prison after 27 years, he worked closely with South Africa’s white minority government to create a non-racial democratic system. A decision like this doesn’t come easy. However, he let his intuition lead him and instead of continuing the militant protests that led to his arrest, he decided to establish a dialogue that would ensure equality for all. His one decision to collaborate instead of overtake, majorly changed the course of humanity.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Took a chance on change)
What if someone told you that some decisions may seem like a shot in the dark, but could create a revolution that reverberates for centuries? Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer from 19th-century India decided to launch a newspaper called Sambad Kaumudi. How could he know if something that had never been done would actually work? The only thing he truly believed was that if enough people read the political commentary on India’s various social problems, it could lead to reform. People might be motivated to pressurise the British administration into implementing changes that benefited Indians. Needless to say it must have taken him plenty of courage to rise against the currents.
Sometimes, decisions that seem to lead you nowhere might actually just change the world. It’s okay to take that shot in the dark by listening to your gut.
Marie Curie (Studied the subject matter and had a solution-oriented approach)
One of the most crucial aspects of decision-making is identifying a problem and finding a solution to it. In a world where women were trained to be housewives, Marie Curie decided to study, diving head first into the research of radioactivity. Her decision to work with something she knew was potentially dangerous makes you wonder – should you factor in the consequences of a decision, and to what extent? The effects of radioactive elements weren’t fully known then but even when Marie Curie learnt more, she decided to continue with her research.
Even though this led to the discovery of two elements that revolutionised medicine, nuclear physics and study of atomic energy, it also cost her her life. Would you change your decision based on its consequences, or follow through because it matters to you?
Ada Lovelace (Focused on research and critical thinking)
Throughout history, the most prominent decisions have been backed by critical thinking, thorough research and expertise. For instance, while working on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, Ada Lovelace realised that it could do more than just manipulate numbers. So she decided to write and publish the Bernoulli programme, something no one believed could have been created by a woman. Her decision to take a chance overturned the world as it was. It wouldn’t have been possible without her expertise and research. On the other hand, it’s also one of those decisions that aren’t grand but merely a drop in the ocean – one that caused a ripple big enough to change history forever.
Intuition, expertise, experience – these are some things that influence the decisions we make. However whether you follow through with the decision depends entirely on its consequences – good or bad. It’s a long process that requires a calm mind and plenty of critical thinking so you can make a decision that leads to change.
