Direction
Direction can be approached in different ways.
One interesting way is through a 2x2 matrix divided on optimism and determinism. Here, we will assume optimism and discuss determinism.
The deterministic view has a clear vision for the future. «The future will be different, and this is how it will happen» The indeterministic view, however, does not know how the future will look like. «The future will be different, but I don’t know how». Because we assume optimism, different should be read as different and better.
The deterministic view is rather intuitive: "Think about the future. Set a vision. Create a plan. Build it" The indeterministic view is a bit harder to grasp. How can the future be better if no-one plans for, and creates it? Absent a clear direction, the indeterministic view instead focuses on the internal processes. «How» we work is more important than «what» we work on.
This view can be seen in light of the concept of antifragility. In short: “Something that can break is called fragile. Something that won’t break is called robust. But what do you call something that wants to be broken? Antifragile” An antifragile system wants to be exposed to stressors because they give the system a direction so that the system can grow stronger by rebuilding. For example, humanity is an antifragile system and the corona-virus is a stressor that pushes humanity to create new solutions, ie. grow.
Conversely, without stressors, an antifragile system halts. More specific: If the internal process can solve the stressor without any re-adaptations the system will not grow. For example, if we could solve the corona-virus by simply continuing with how the world already operated, it should not be seen as a stressor. But, as most of us have experienced, because we have had to re-adapt our lives and think in different ways, it should be seen as a stressor. It is the re-adaptation that makes the system grow.
The indeterministic view can be described as a state of continuous reaction to random stressors, in some sense the complete opposite of predicting the future. On the other hand, religiously following a deterministic approach will most likely see random stressors as a distraction and something not worth pursuing.
The Chinese symbol of yin/yang embraces the duality of the «AND» instead of being oppressed by the tyranny of the «OR». We don’t have to choose between black OR white - we can have black AND white. And when we choose both, it is not the blurring into gray, but a dynamic where both parts are present with their respective uniqueness.
We want to embrace the duality of the indeterministic and deterministic view. Under normal circumstances, the focus should be to pursue bold visions for the future. And in the exceptions, in the face of real, existential stressors all attention should shift this way.
We, therefore, end up with an internal process that constantly adapts to two forms of stressors. The first stressor comes from our visions, is self-imposed and ever-evolving. This stressor is long-term and deals with the upside of what the future can be. The second stressor comes from something we don’t have control of, is uncertain, abrupt, and existential. Because they need immediate and full attention, they often end up short-lived. And, the reaction to these stressors is about avoiding the possible down-side.
This takeaway can be applied at the personal level. Most obvious, use vision and goals as a way to grow under normal circumstances. But there is a less obvious one, which is also much harder to live by. This takeaway is to acknowledge the importance of reacting to down-side stressors immediately and with full attention. The reason why this is so important is two-folded. First, if not taken care of, the stressor will grow into something overwhelming. It has to be taken care of, and not doing so will only make the problem worse. But secondly, reacting to down-side stressors often result in the most valuable lessons. They should therefore be seen as rare opportunities to grow.
Erlend