In case you haven’t heard of the butterfly effect, it’s the theory that a movement as small as a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a hurricane on the other side of the world.

The Cambridge Dictionary describes it as ‘a situation in which an action or change that does not seem important has a very large effect, especially in other places or around the world’.

The element that isn’t included in either of those definitions is that the butterfly would be unlikely to know that by flapping its wings it had been responsible for such a major consequence so far away.

Why is any of that important? Because more and more, as I talk to people who have come through trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts or loneliness, I am noticing that the butterfly effect has been at work. It is often one small, seemingly inconsequential event that has had an enormous impact and changed someone’s life for the better.

I regularly hear stories of how it was one comment, one text message, one phone call or surprise visit at the right time which helped someone turned the corner and start believing in themselves again. Even more striking is that the other person is rarely aware of this. Most of us have very little idea of the impact that our words and actions can have on the people we come into contact with.

In my own life, I remember one occasion when I was at a supermarket checkout feeling utterly miserable. I had five children still at home – three of whom were under five – and my husband had just left us.

At times I felt as though I just wasn’t going to make it on my own. Then on this particular day a man, whom I had only met once in passing, saw me at the checkout and smiled. He knew nothing about my situation – and all he said was ‘Nice to see you’. But that comment felt warm and genuine. It gave me strength. It reminded me that perhaps I wasn’t invisible after all and that maybe things would get better one day. That one small comment gave me hope at a time when I needed it the most.

We very rarely know how another person is feeling. People put on a brave front. They often don’t want to be a ‘burden’ to others. It is easier to say you are fine than tell someone what is really on your mind. So with that in mind, it is worth remembering that by reaching out to someone or just saying a few kind or encouraging words, you could be someone’s butterfly. You may never come to know about the impact you have had – but that doesn’t make the effect any less important, or any less real.

With all the tragic events that are happening in the world right now, there has perhaps never been a more important time to start trusting in the butterfly effect. By making a conscious effort to do little acts of kindness, to reach out where we can, to notice and encourage those who might be feeling ignored – you never know just how big an impact you might have. Small actions often have far-reaching consequences.

And although we might not get to hear about the effect of flapping our wings – that doesn’t make them any less significant, or any less real.