THINGS WORK WHEN WE ARE MINDFUL OF HOW PARTS FUNCTION AND RELATE AS A WHOLE.
The core of a functional approach is computation—evaluating the functions of all parts.
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Key traits:
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Uses immutability (functions can’t change once created).
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Relies on pure functions (same input always gives the same output).
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Emphasizes pathways. Scenarios are planned in advance. A situation is read, a response is calculated, and a function is selected to execute it.
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It’s easy to get locked into thinking that everything can and should be reduced to its individual parts.
But no matter how well we understand how those parts function, we can never fully anticipate all that will happen when they relate as a whole. Not even AI can do that to the point that all things become certain.
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Emergence: When parts combine, they create new functions that do not exist in the individual parts.
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Nonlinearity: Small changes in the beginning can lead to massive, completely unexpected results later. This is called the butterfly effect.
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Complex Interactions: As the number of connections between parts grows, the total system becomes too difficult to calculate fully.
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Information Limits: We never have exact data on every single starting condition or outside force.
Examples
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Water Molecules: Knowing how a single H₂O molecule acts does not let you predict the exact shape of a splashing wave or ice crystals without seeing the whole system.
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The Brain: You can study a single neuron, but you cannot predict a specific human thought or memory just from that piece.
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Weather: We understand air and heat, but tracking every wind current to predict rain weeks away is impossible.
When we are not mindful of how functional parts relate as a whole, we experience uncertainty as an immediate threat. This can trigger:
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Fight-or-flight response: We try to control what is happening or escape from it.
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Catastrophizing: The mind repeatedly imagines worst-case scenarios and treats those thoughts as facts.
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Hypervigilance: We feel jumpy, struggle to concentrate, or constantly scan our surroundings for signs of danger.
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Exhaustion: Over-preparing, checking, and worrying drain our emotional and physical energy before anything happens.
We take actions that make events worse, delaying the essential changes needed to prevent complete failure.
The ability to anticipate comes from reading the relationships between the parts of the whole, not from knowing how individual parts function.
Insight comes from the relationship of the whole, not from a reduction to the parts.
The whole is not the sum
of its parts. It's the
relationship
between them.
Things work when we are mindful of how parts function and relate as a whole.
Adult - Level 1 - @ Longdean
Thu 15 Feb
|Hemel Hempstead
We play a version of basketball where the importance of space, time, and timing is turned up. For those Wow moments.
Time & Location
15 Feb 2024, 21:00 – 22:00
Hemel Hempstead, Hill Common, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8JH, UK
Guests
About the event
Thinking basketball is 50% technical, speed, and strength. 50% space, time, and timing. By separating out the coaching of space, time, and timing skills from the coaching of technical, speed, and strength skills. We help players develop their space, time, and timing skills - without distracting or taking time away from the repetition work they need to do to improve their technical, speed, and strength skills. This is a level 1 session.
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Level 3 is 25% technical, speed, and strength. 75% space, time, and timing.
Level 2 is 33% - 66%
Level 1 is 50% - 50% our most competitive
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Tickets
Pay it forward
This is buying a ticket for someone else play. We never let money stop people from playing.
£7.50
Sale endedPay what you want
Please, don't let a lack of money stop you from coming. We are a social enterprise. Or, pay more as a donation.
Pay what you want
Sale endedLets play ball
We are a social enterprise. We use all profits to give those who are excluded or vulnerable to social exclusion a free experience of playing sports and games where everyone set's each other up to succeed. Where everyone constantly imagines other ways. Where everyone uses mistakes to find what is next and grow. Experiences to build a belief that they are not stuck as they are now. Thank you. Contact jon.thorne@LifeSkills21.club to get a free ticket
£7.50
Sale ended
SkillsofWow.org is the governing body for those who coach the skills of Wow.