Finding Your Superpower in the Chaos – When “Normal” Goes Out the Window
Okay, let’s be honest, everyone’s kinda feeling it, right?
That sense of… “what just happened?” One minute you’re thinking you’ve got a handle on things, the next, the ground’s shifting. It feels like the goalposts keep moving, and “predictable” vanished somewhere along with decent parking spaces.
It’s a common theme of conversations – “Things are just so unpredictable,” “I don’t know what to expect anymore,” and yeah, “Is this the new normal?”
And look, I get it. I’ve had those days (and weeks, let’s be real) where you just want to throw your hands up and say, “Seriously?”
It’s not just the big, world-shaking stuff, either. It’s the little things that pile up – the unexpected client pivot (I love and highly enocurage a pivot btw!), the tech glitches that eat up your afternoon, the constant feeling of people being a bit off-balance.
But here’s the thing I’ve been wrestling with, and it’s changed how I look at this whole “unpredictable” thing, what if we’re looking at it all wrong?
What if this constant change, this feeling of being a bit adrift, isn’t something to fear, but something to use?
That’s where this concept of “antifragility” comes in. It’s not about being a rock, unmoving and unchanging.
It’s not even just about bouncing back after something hits you.
It’s about getting stronger because of it.
Like, you take a hit, and you come out the other side with new skills, new perspectives, and a whole lot more grit.
Think about it, have you ever had a moment where something totally unexpected happened (Errr, 2020 era of COVID!), and it actually led to something amazing?
Maybe a project fell through, but it opened the door to a better opportunity.
Or maybe a setback forced you to learn a new skill that ended up being a game-changer.
That’s antifragility in action.
So, how do we make ourselves more… well, “unbreakable-ish?”
- Stop Trying to Control Everything – Yeah, I know, easier said than done. But the more you try to hold on tight, the more you’re gonna feel the whiplash when things change. Let go a little. Trust that you can handle whatever comes your way.
- Build Your “What If” Toolbox – Don’t just have a Plan A. Have a Plan B, C, and maybe even a Plan D. The more options you have, the more adaptable you’ll be.
- Embrace the Mess – Mistakes happen. Setbacks happen. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Learn from it, and move on. That’s where the growth happens.
- Find Your People – You don’t have to go through this alone. Find a community, a mentor, someone who gets it. Having a support system makes a world of difference.
- Get Curious – Instead of seeing change as a threat, see it as an opportunity to learn. What can you discover in this chaos? What new skills can you pick up?
Look, I’m not saying it’s easy.
We all have those moments where we just want to curl up in a ball and pretend the world doesn’t exist.
But I’m starting to believe that this whole “unpredictable” thing is actually a gift. It’s forcing us to grow, to adapt, tobecome stronger than we ever thought possible.
So, next time you feel like the world’s throwing you a curveball, take a deep breath, and remember, you’ve got this.
You’re not just surviving; you’re becoming antifragile.
RESOURCES AND NEXT STEPS
If you’re looking for more support and guidance, here are some valuable resources:
- Book a conversation to see how we can help you with your mindset HERE.
- Have meaningful conversations. Connect with your people deeper by sharing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Use our Flip The Thinking Tool kit and share it with people around you. See how it helps you enrich the connection and conversation.
- Follow along on LinkedIn HERE
- Find out more about our women’s leadership programme HERE