To cause or accelerate a reaction or change — to make something happen faster without being consumed in the process.
From catalyst + -ize. Entered English in the early 1900s. The metaphorical use (catalyzing social change, catalyzing innovation) became more common than the chemical use — because humans love the idea of causing transformation without being depleted.
To catalyze is to change everything around you while remaining intact yourself. The best leaders, teachers, and mentors are catalysts — they accelerate transformation in others without diminishing themselves. Generosity that costs nothing yet transforms everything.
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