What does it take to change the future? Many believe change comes from drastic shifts in life, but sometimes it doesn't really take much to steer you toward a new path.

This phenomenon, known as the "butterfly effect," suggests that even the smallest actions can have a large impact on the world around us, even if we don't realize it. Originally, the name stemmed from the idea that tornadoes could be caused by the flapping of a butterfly's wings weeks earlier. But, soon enough people were able to apply the concept to their own lives.

The butterfly effect has slowly crept into popular culture as well. One of the most critical plot points of the show, "How I Met Your Mother," only came to fruition because the main character left his yellow umbrella at someone's house. The story-based video game, "Until Dawn," centers around a group of college students discovering the butterfly effect as they escape a haunted mountain.

Even if you're unfamiliar with the concept, nearly everyone has experienced its consequences. Have you ever rushed toward a departing train only to miss it by the slightest margin? What if you had gotten out of bed five minutes earlier or spent three fewer minutes in the shower? How would your life have changed if you had reached the train on time?

These moments often seem inconsequential. I'll just wait for the next train--no big deal. What we don't take into consideration are the opportunities we miss by not boarding on time. What if you had miraculously hit it off with the person sitting next to you, making a lifelong friend as a result? The same opportunities can also open up because you missed the train. While waiting for the next one you might strike up a conversation with a stranger to pass the time.

I'm not saying these potential outcomes are always going to be good or always going to be bad, but when those doors shut, so do the doors in front of those hypothetical opportunities you could have had. Whether that's for better or for worse is uncertain. In reality, it's impossible to predict how these small, mundane events will shape our future.

With this phenomenon in mind, it's clear that the butterfly effect also feeds into another popular concept: karma. A small compliment can be the catalyst to turn someone's life around, while a mean-spirited or poorly delivered joke can plant the seeds of doubt within someone else. A lot of us have more control over our environment than we realize. Little acts can lead to big consequences, good or bad.