Greetings from Scotland,
It is a fine day today here in Scotland. As we move through May, the temperatures are beginning to rise, as is my desire for some warm sunshine. However, a Scottish phrase that I love says, 'Ne'er cast a clout till May be oot'. What this means is do not discard your winter clothing (clouts) until May is over (oot). There is still the potential for the unpredictable Scottish weather to catch us out. So, for now, I am contenting myself with my winter warmies, but the anticipation is rising.
Big smile.
In last week’s newsletter, I wrote about how understanding complex adaptive systems has helped me be more at ease with my life. I am more able to flow knowing that there is a cosmic intelligence informing life. From this understanding, I can relax into knowing there is an evolutionary will at play that is above and beyond everyday existence. I just need to tap into this to find the inner balance that fuels my optimism.
This week, in the online Enlivening Edge magazine, I came across an excellent article by Stephan Grabmeier called A New Acronym to Describe the World. I found it fascinating. It takes the conversation about complex adaptive systems to the next level. I just loved how it made me feel. Rather than try and explain it all, Stephan has permitted sharing the graphic below.
Have a look at it, and then underneath it, I will write about my take on the content and why I found it so meaningful.
Enjoy:)
In my time as a management consultant, I often used the VUCA model. I found that the leaders I was coaching would relax and settle into their experiences. They said it helped them feel less guilty about their confusion and inertia. I really like Stephan’s explanation of why BANI is more helpful. I eased into a new understanding that we are facing a reality that the VUCA acronym no longer thoroughly explains. At the bottom of the diagram, he offers ways to respond to BANI. This had an immediate effect of grounding me as I was reading. Here is my exploration of the journey from VUCA to BANI. I have offered some questions at the end, and I would love to hear your interpretation of this.
Volatility to Brittleness to Resilience
For me, the concept of Volatility is all about unpredictability. Even with some volatility, there is the possibility that a degree of stability remains within the system. There is almost the hope that we could perhaps return to a steady state in time with the right interventions. However, with Brittleness, there is a sense of breakdown. We may well have reached the point of no return for this way of working. And yet, I do not see this as a doomsday scenario. More that space is being created for the new to emerge. Stephan's response to brittleness is to maintain our Resilience in the face of perceived peril and danger. In transitioning from the old to the new, we need to focus on holistic caring to sustain ourselves and the people and projects we care about. We need to harness our wellbeing intelligence to be resolute in protecting our inner and outer resources, ready for when it is time to emerge.
Uncertainty to Anxiety to Mindfulness
The interplay of Uncertainty to Anxiety was an interesting territory to explore. For me, uncertainty touches on a sense of not knowing. However, I see that I have a degree of confidence that I can relax into the not knowing with relative ease and be fine. Whereas anxiety is more underpinned by fear and linked to my freeze, flight, and fight innate response. This experience can lead to feeling apprehensive and unsettled. Over the last two years, the increase in anxiety has been fuelled mainly by messaging from the external world. Mindfulness brings us a discerning awareness of how we are being impacted by what is happening around us. It helps us stay alert to our thoughts and bring our perceptual intelligence to the fore. This intelligence enables us to have more inner centredness that prevents us from being overwhelmed by fear. We can more easily choose thoughts that bring us appreciation and gratitude for all that we are and have.
Complexity to Nonlinearity to Adaptivity
I began this exploration last week around the complex adaptive systems. I realise that, up to that point, I felt very at home with this theory. When Stephan highlighted the move from Complexity to Nonlinearity, I felt this huge exhale in my body. As I explored this, I understood that I could no longer get away with applying rational thought and logic to what was happening in the world. At times, I felt totally outmanoeuvred by the messiness of what I perceived. It felt, at times, as if my cognitive skills were insufficient to interpret events. Adaptivity is a new word to me. It felt clunky at first. Then I saw it is about having the ability to respond to circumstances. It opens us to the importance of flexibility of thought and of being more capable of deploying skilful means beyond the rational. This skill calls for a degree of alert assessment that balances our emotional and cognitive intelligences.
Ambiguity to Incomprehensiiblity to Intuition
With Ambiguity, I see that there are many interpretations I can make about what is happening within the system. It used to be that if I was agile in understanding cause and effect, then I could probably make sense of things. Yet, nowadays, information and data swarm all around us with the internet fueling 24-hour updates. This volume and frequency have the potential to overwhelm and stress us. The concept of Incomprehensibility is rooted in my sense that inter-relationships are no longer clear cut. Also, I see that the timing between stimuli and response is much harder to track and use as a basis for prediction. It could be that what is unfolding has its routes in things that happened decades ago. So our response to this potential confusion is to seek foresight derived from our predictive intelligence. This skill is where our understanding of cycles, patterns and rhythms can help us access our more profound Intuition. More and more, I hear people saying, 'trust your intuition’ rather than knowledge or information.
Questions for this Week
This newsletter was a happy exploration for me this week. I look forward to hearing your insights on the move from VUCA to BANI.
Here are my questions for this week:
What fuels your resilience in maintaining your wellbeing?
Are there mindfulness practices you have that centred you?
How does adaptivity show up and flow in your life?
Where does intuition play out in helping you to make sense of things?
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
Well it’s interesting. I’m finding it actually a lot to take in. But you know Ann I find that resilience is something I find comes with appreciating the sheer scale of the altruistic friends I see doing amazing things all around me on a day to day basis. It makes me stronger and feel I can be not just happy but overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Just yesterday I felt I must be the happiest man in the world just because I could feel how lovely the work done by all those who have befriended me especially since I moved to the area three years ago has been. But I think better to just say I’m the happiest man in Dalkeith. Now that might just be true. I don’t do a lot of mindfulness Ann at least not that I’m aware of but I feel once again the sun on me as I type. And it’s just lovely. Adaptation again comes from hearing a little bit more than before. And making slight changes each week like walking further. Intuition is that sense I get sometimes from music. My hopes and prayers that despite the complex difficulties in life the songs of radiance in everything from the tiniest leaf to the great sweep of the ocean will bring us all enough strength. Yes there is colossal anxiety in today’s world but once again if it can be solved the most vital ingredient is optimism. And a beautiful sunny outlook the sadnesses notwithstanding. Life is so beautiful. And for me certainly I am happier now than ever before. Wishing you a truly lovely day. Great to be here with you all. Richard x
And the adagio by Samuel Barber just coming up on my phone. It’s making me thoughtful. Above all grateful. Kind hopes everyone today. 🎶😊
Wow, Ann! This is just facinating!! You have a way of bringing us some very rich concepts--ones that truly help us wrap our hearts around what is possible moving forward for our world....it will take me some time to digest this....so appreciate you and your insightful sharing. Much love for a beautiful weekend ahead, xxoo