Finding Meaning in Patterns — Good or Bad?

a poem and a challenge

Photo by MagicPattern on Unsplash

In patterns across time
we learn to predict that
A may cause B,
to stop or manipulate B
by affecting or minimizing A.

We imbue meaning
on the chaos of life,
in order to better understand
how to avoid pain,
how to maximize joy.

This meaning is valued
motivating our every step,
with one key caveat.

This meaning is valuable
when the patterns hold true
with enough evidence,
across repeated instances,
and across the right contexts.

The valuable meaning
falls apart
when patterns are overapplied,
roping behaviours in line
to the wrong
understanding
of events.

Thank you to Michael Stockelman for challenging me to the prompt: Humans imbue meaning into things all the time. How is that a good thing, how it is a…