The idea that small choices and actions can lead to dramatically different life outcomes, often causing anxiety about missed opportunities and alternative futures.
"I just think about how different life would've been if I transfered to ___ college and ran into and met ___ person. It's even the simple choices you made in first grade ala butterfly effect. It used to paralyze me and I was afraid of missing out on missing the best opportunities that technically did"
"for background I am very ocd and preoccupied with the notion of the butterfly effect and how every choice in life you have ever made as little as deciding what side of the road you walk on holds away over the direction of your life. it has made me feel very sick"