What If One Plus One Didn’t Have to Equal Two?

Where in your life have you been assuming that one plus one always equals two—when, in reality, one plus one could equal one, or even “window,” as my daughter used to remind me?

It’s easy to become so comfortable with our assumptions that they solidify into an unconscious reality—a story we don’t even realize we’re telling ourselves. But what happens when we challenge those assumptions? When we allow space for new possibilities?

I was recently listening to Dr. Ellen Langer, Harvard psychology professor and “mother of mindfulness,” as she explained how adding one piece of chewing gum to another still results in just one piece of chewing gum. This simple example immediately transported me to moments in my own life where I’ve seen firsthand that one plus one doesn’t always equal two.

We all love extraordinary stories of people beating the odds, but I’m especially inspired by the everyday moments where people defy expectations and rewrite their own narratives.

Earlier this week, I was helping an elder in the aged care facility where I work troubleshoot his malfunctioning printer. He’s writing a novel—his first—and is preparing to submit it to a publisher. He’s not buying into the stereotype that aged care residents are simply there to pass the time. Another resident, at 102 years old, was landing bullseyes with velcro balls from across the room. She’s not listening to anyone who says 100 is “too old” to be competitive.

Then there’s my murder mystery group—a team of detectives in their 80s and 90s who are absolutely serious about solving the crimes I create. In fact, they’ve become so sharp that I’ve had to make each mystery progressively more difficult. If I slip up—a flawed timeline, an illogical motive—they will catch me. And they love catching me out!

I see this same pattern with my coaching clients. Some, living with chronic illness, take control of their health journeys when others have told them their condition will only worsen. Others, living with chronic pain, find ways to regain joy and purpose in their lives. And then there are the women in their 50s who have transformed redundancy into new careers, in industries more aligned with their values, despite the outdated belief that employability declines with age.

So what do these stories have in common? Each of these individuals refused to accept the default equation. Instead of taking one plus one and passively accepting two, they used courage, creativity, and persistence to rewrite their reality. They made one plus one equal whatever they needed it to be in order to move forward.

And now, my invitation to you: Where in your life are you assuming one plus one must equal two? Where might you be telling yourself a story that no longer serves you? And what would happen if you gave yourself permission to rewrite that equation—into something more expansive, more empowering, and more aligned with where you truly want to go next? Perhaps, just like my daughter once said, one plus one could be a window—offering you a fresh perspective, a new adventure, or even an entirely different reality waiting to be explored.