We seem mostly to abhor chaos, probably in the belief that our job is to establish order. At least in our own lives.
Then we can look at the city and community around us and there is ample evidence that we are often winning in this pursuit of order. That is, if we are lucky enough to live in a city not ravaged by war or terrorism.
But when we can’t (establish order) we find it disturbing and we choose to fight or walk away—back to the predictable and the safe. As if order is the default setting.
In fact, I believe that chaos is the natural state of the world.
Left to its own devices, rampant nature would reclaim our neat ways and tidy settlements. Flora and fauna would re-colonise the vacant lot. Whereas, order is unnatural and takes a lot of our time and effort.
We have lots of models to depict this struggle between chaos and order. One that comes to mind is the yin and yang of Taoism. You will know the one—like 2 tadpoles end to end. Without wanting to take it too far—especially in its interpretation of gender—it provides a useful template:
Yin is the dark area and is slow, soft, yielding, diffuse, cold, wet, passive and is associated with water, earth, the moon, femininity and night. Yang is the light area), is fast, hard, solid, focused, hot, dry, active and is associated with fire, sky, the sun, masculinity and day.
There is a white dot on the dark and a dark dot on the light to show that something of one exists in the other. The part of most interest to me is the interface between light and dark which forms the ever-changing, the dynamic place where order and chaos do battle…or where order and chaos co-exist.
If either yin or yang become dominant, we need to restore the balance.
This provides even a way to embrace chaos—there’s nothing wrong with it. We know that it will always be there. And as long as we have breath, we can work with it, establishing the appropriate amount of order for the sort of lives we wish to lead.
And the good news is that as humans we are uniquely equipped to deal with it. The little I know about the human brain tells me that the neocortex is capable of overriding the limbic brain—suppressing desire, choosing between flight and fight and controlling impulses. It equips us to do the counterintuitive.
Although, not every time we need it. Nor in everyone. But we certainly have that capacity to self-direct rather than to respond subconsciously.
So, here are some ways in which we can deal with chaos:
- Be accepting of new experiences. If we can accept that the world is ever-changing, we are more likely to absorb the shock of the new. It’s a way of thinking—be always open to learning.
- Accept ambiguity. Look at both the yin and the yang—the contradictory—and allow them to sit side by side in your consciousness. Give them the opportunity to be close friends rather than distant enemies.
- Think of the world as an exciting place, rather than as a dangerous place. And on most occasions, we will be right. In cricketing parlance, we are on the front foot—defence is our second choice.
- Seek to understand the changes unfolding in front of us. If we have looked away, turn back to see what was so alarming and inquire where it comes from and what its purpose may be.
- Invent ways to be strong, rather than always safe. Understanding gives us ways of dealing with the chaotic, the different or the threatening. Or we can hope that the locked door will keep the danger away.
- Create our own rhythm of life. Choose the most important things in our lives and make a plan that allocates the time, expertise and energy for success; and repeat. It’s a living project plan.
We can stand at that interface of chaos and order, rather than pretending that our only place of residence is in Order Avenue.
There’s nothing wrong with chaos.
It just is.