Copyright forbes
You can thrive in a changing and uncertain world. The world today is the source of tons of stress, doubt and anxiety. It’s a changing and uncertain world, known as VUCA, which stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. But it’s possible to thrive despite it all. With everything that’s going on, it can be tough to stay grounded and calm. In fact, a report from the American Psychiatric Association found that between 77% to 69% of people in the US are worried about everything from the economy to current events and lack of connections or meaningful relationships. In addition, 64% of people are facing stress and only 25% of people are flourishing, according to a study of 17,000 respondents in 16 countries conducted by AXA. Given all the stressors, it’s wise to figure out how to get through constructively and find stability, calm and balance amidst it all. Luckily, there are some practical strategies you can employ to thrive. How to Thrive in a VUCA World Thriving in a VUCA world of involves finding the right balance within each of the areas of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. 1. Balance Stability and Flexibility One of the factors in today’s VUCA world is volatility. We are facing rapid change that is also unpredictable. We typically understand volatility in terms of financial markets, in which volatility creates risk, or in terms of science in which volatile compounds are more likely to vaporize unexpectedly. And we consider someone with a volatile temperament quick to get angry or express intense emotions. MORE FOR YOU We can respond effectively by balancing stability and flexibility. In yoga, when you do a balance pose, you try to find one spot in front of you that isn’t moving, and that can help you maintain focus while you’re seeking stability. Responding to volatility is like this too. In the midst of change, find elements that aren’t changing and maintain focus on those. Perhaps your industry is in flux, or your job is at risk, but your family is standing by your side, and your home is remaining consistent. Another way to maintain stability is to focus on your values and beliefs. Consider what’s most important and central to your identity. Factors like faith, family, friends and contributions through your work can be most primary to your stability and sense of grounding. Balance stability with flexibility. Reinforce for yourself that you have the capability to get through and remind yourself about times in the past when you’ve successfully adjusted, adapted and moved ahead. You can also increase your flexibility by reframing stress. You’ll certainly face struggles, because that’s part of life. But how you understand it makes a difference. When you think of challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, your physiological responses will be more positive. In fact, doing things that are difficult can be good for your mental health and self-esteem as you grow your capabilities and belief in what you can accomplish. 2. Balance Holding On and Letting Go Uncertainty is another part of living in a VUCA world. Think of what makes a scary movie so scary: it’s the suspense and the feeling of doubt about what’s coming next. In life, uncertainty is exacerbated when things are open-ended, left hanging or when you have a lack of information. In fact, the liminal stage of change is when you know something will be changing, but you don’t yet know what the new situation will be. This period can be especially stressful when it lasts for a long time or when you are chronically facing periods where you don’t know what’s next. You can respond to uncertainty by balancing the processes of holding on and letting go. In holding on, focus on what you know and control what you can. Research on control and autonomy show that when you have more choice and control, it contributes to your mental health and esteem. Studies by Indiana University in 2016 and 2020 found that when people had stressful jobs with little decision-making power, they experienced significantly greater negative effects than when they had a stressful job that included decision-making power. The power of choice mattered, and in situations where people had some control, they were more likely to be stimulated and inspired by the pressure and challenges they faced. You can also reinforce a sense of control by staying focused on the present, rather than ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. At the same time, give yourself permission to let go and avoid trying to control things that you can’t. Your thoughts, actions and reactions are within your control, but you’re better off to let go of trying to control the actions or judgements of others or external events. 3. Balance Learning and Satisfaction Another aspect of our VUCA world is complexity. When things are complicated, they include lots of parts, but they’re connected in a predictable, linear way. A car engine is a good example. On the other hand, when things are complex, they include multiple parts that are interconnected, non-linear and mutually dependent. The economy is a good example in which each part affects other parts in multiple ways that aren’t always predictable. Complexity can create a sense of overwhelm, and you’re overcome for good reasons. Specifically, we face information overload in which there is more information coming at us today and it is accessible anywhere we are, because our devices are always at hand. In addition, the information is more negative. In a study of 23 million headlines in 47 news outlets since the year 2000 published in PLOS One, there was a significant increase in expressions of anger, disgust, fear and sadness. In addition, when news is bad, we’re more likely to click on it, it’s more likely to trigger us and it’s more likely stay in our memory for a longer period of time. Overwhelm is also the result of information that is hard to understand or questionable in terms of its trustworthiness. Finally, we’re usually experiencing the onslaught of information when we’re alone and scrolling, rather than in the past when families might have listened to a radio show or watched the news together. We can respond to complexity by balancing learning with satisfaction. On the one hand, we can lean into learning and curiosity. We can dig deeply and avoid taking posts or news at face value, seeking more and exploring nuances. No one is as smart as everyone, so we can also lean on others to collaborate together and bring our different perspectives together for greater overall understanding. On the other hand, we are also wise to just be satisfied and pause our behavior that is yearning or seeking. We can set boundaries and limits by tracking time and limiting time on platforms that overwhelm us. In addition, we can invest energy in activities that overcome the overwhelm like exercising or spending time in nature or with friends. As Marcus Aurelius said, “You always own the option of having no opinion.” You can choose not to weigh in or wander into every debate or issue. You can choose to ignore or turn off. 4. Balance Taking Action with Being Quiet Ambiguity is the final aspect of the VUCA experience. When things are ambiguous, they are vague and have multiple possible interpretations. This is like the experience of driving in the fog. Interestingly, one of the primary factors that causes us to drive more slowly isn’t slippery roads, it is how far we can see in front of us. In an ambiguous situation, we don’t feel like we can see as far ahead and we may want to put on the brakes. We can respond to ambiguity by balancing action with quiet. You’re wise to take action, even in the face of ambiguity. Like driving in the fog, you’ll want to go more slowly but keep going so you can reach your destination. Research has demonstrated that when you take action, you boost your mental health. This is because you reinforce your sense of capability and agency. Try and test so you can learn what works well and what needs improvement. Be active in your local community and work on things that are positive and proactive. In addition, maintain hope and optimism in order to stay motivated to keep going. At the same time, you can also choose to be still and be quiet. These are choices to turn off. Interestingly, there has been a 48% increase in houses that list a reading nook as one of the features and there is a new and marked increase in the number of landlines that are being installed in homes today, so people can manage the flow of information from their devices. Be quiet by reading a book, putting your device away, taking a walk or meditating. All of these offer balance to a world of hustle. Thrive in a VUCA World of Change and Uncertainty A VUCA world is a stressful world, but you can find balance and work through in a constructive and calm approach. Thrive in a changing and uncertain world by balancing stability with flexibility, balancing holding on with letting go, balancing learning with satisfaction and balancing action with quiet. Data on the increase in home listings that mention reading nooks. Data on the increase in landline installations. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
