A dance between Chaos and Order

Another day, another week and the globe still turns.

Each day, the new world has been waking up to extremes of anomalous and surreal circumstances.

It began quickly, but quietly through a meteoric thunderbolt, stealthily striking at the spirit of our social structure, a world away from the one we were once so entrenched with. 

Now we find ourselves frantically adjusting to a new system, a new norm, beyond what we’ve ever known before.

 The intention here, is to recognise and acknowledge how our energy will be affected, by what we have been going through these past few weeks, as we live through the trepidations of COVID-19.

The world is changing and continues to change, with every new sunset following every new sunrise and every new dusk and dawn, as life dances with chaos and order.

Chaos and order… yes but this is not just another dance, it is not the same as any other relationship like; Yin and yang, sweet and sour, sparkling or still which are a far cry from this capricious relationship. This extreme polarity is now dancing with life to a new order, as earth is gracefully reclaiming its power over the planet. It is now natures turn to heal and breath again, to rebalance, revitalise and renew again, with clean air and clearer waters reflecting bright blue skies as birdsong carries in the breeze.

I know that some of us have felt the severity and reverberation of the consequences cascading around the globe. While COVID-19 does its bidding, we are forced to wait in suspended animation, for a silver bulleted hero that will lead us into a better, healthier, wealthier tomorrow. 

A waiting world held in bizarre and contrasting combinations, including extremes of loneliness, aloneness with contrasting human connections - beyond our ever imagination. I have noticed the impact on my energy with extreme tides of emotional waves, especially when I am not alone and yet I can still feel the dire loneliness colluding with the cabin fever that comes with the lockdown.

After the initial phase of discombobulated chaos, amidst a clarity of confusion and a cacophony of uprooted routines and rituals, most of us are now confined at home. We are now forced to balance work life, home life, life-life, and for the many - all under one roof. 

Some of us are attempting to carry out online work meetings. Others have been known to juggle home-schooling or balancing a child on their knee, in the midst of running urgent team talks and briefings on video conferences. Let’s not forget the competition of the myriad of household background noises and glitchy Wi-Fi connections with slow-motion bandwidth or frozen downloads. Another dance between the chaos of technology and the order of technical connectivity. We should, however, take a moment or two to appreciate how blessed some of us are, with hi-tech gadgets and super-fast home broadband.  We must also spare a thought to imagine and consider how disconnecting it might be for those without such lavish or privileged access to a digital world.

From morning yoga, to the morning brew. From the energetic live-stream workouts, to comedy on the couch, it’s a busy life my friends, but a little different from the one most of us once knew.

Are we basking as a first world state and masking our 3rd world challenges?

Look up from your life and appreciate that there are swathes of the population who are in situations which are much less than ideal.

Things are changing at such a speed that it may not be so simple to make such snap adaptations to a new way of living. We have to remember that we are a species that are good at quickly adapting. Typically, most people do not like the idea of change because it means changing or disrupting habits, routines and rituals, unless of course (like me), they like the excitement of newness or are part of creating and driving something new.

The seasonal sunshine may brighten our days and lighten our mood, with the daily dose of amusing social media memes and social distancing but this is not a vacation!

Those who do not live on their own, may find themselves going through an additional change in their relationships within the home, as dynamics are altered through new routines, behaviours and expectations. The challenges of home-schooling, spilt-shifts and food allocation, coupled with the restrictions for all social gatherings can elucidate unexpected tensions within the household.

For some of those who are living in solitude, the comfort and contentment of their own company, without the demands of the external world is a refreshing and welcome change. For others, living through these challenging times it is exceptionally arduous, all physically, mentally and emotionally. Panic and fear is contagious, exacerbated by the viral sways of media messages.

Shades of anxiety and uncertainty lurk in the wings, as each day unfolds with more casualties, new information and more constraints. Even my love of travelling to green and luscious landscapes is restricted to within a short distance from the doorstep, but I do look forward to my family’s open embrace, when we will see them in person again. The illusions of a certainty we once had, now seems beyond our grasp.

How long until we’re free to roam as we please and as we once did, without dread or caution?

How long before we can feel safe again and be liberated from this faceless, pernicious assassin?

Aspects and truths are very individual, we all have our own versions of what we see, how we feel and what we think, but there is also a common thread that unites us all in todays’ cloaked reality - and that is the uncertainty! New norms, routines and rituals will be born, and nobody really knows how much of the old ways that we once had, will ever return?

Today, clarity is a world away from what it was just a few weeks ago. Many of us are feeling forcefully separated from their nearest and dearest, and others are debarred or furloughed from their everyday business as usual right now. Desperately seeking some order in this quagmire of insatiable chaos, our compass’ guides are suspended, as norms are currently dismantled.

The magnitude of adjustments we need to apply, will touch all of us, as our existence depends upon the changes we undertake. Without the gift of kindness and compassion, this menace reminds us that it does not discriminate who, how or where it will strike or unleash its wrath.

‘We can’t change the world by looking at it. We can change the world by the way we choose to live in it’ (Holden, 2020).

Re-connecting with our inner selves and re-learning how we take care of ourselves is an act of kindness, that will nourish our energies and support others. I wonder what will matter the most to the world when this is all over?

One of the big things we need to pay some humble attention to is our energy. Our human energy and our human connection. Now more than ever before, our energy is a precious asset that speaks louder than our words, it resides in the heart of everything we are doing and how we are being. The state of our energy determines how we exist and how we survive or thrive. We must find the kingdom of kindness that is within us which will nourish our soul.

Now is the time, to look at how you’re showing up to every moment, each and every day. Regardless of whether it’s in our business or personal lives, physical or professional development, virtual or in-person engagements. Understanding human energy and how to apply it in our lives, has never been so paramount to our immunity, survival and success.

It’s no longer about power, speed or greed, it’s now about survival and thrivival … a new truth that calls for a new human connection with an integrity that demands humility and humanity… a new value for many.

How are you managing your Energy at the moment?

The novelty of virtual collaboration is interesting and different and something we will adapt to, but it also requires a capacity of energy, applied in a fashion that we’re not all yet habituated to. What I am noticing is the double-edged impact of extended hours of screen-time with everything online! Where’s the balance now? I had not bargained for the exchange on my energy for the time that now needs to be invested in online communication and connection, (not to mention the ergonomics and time perched on seats).

My inbox messages and social media is flooded with tips and tactical advice in working remotely, balancing responsibilities with isolation, how to protect myself and my loved ones, as well as the more light-hearted meeting invitations for online gatherings.

I’m sure many are missing the physical dash of moving and travelling from one location to another, (getting those daily 10,000 steps in), meeting various people with the added bonus of a hearty handshake, an open embrace or the tender touch of those we love.  Everything was called to change overnight, and everything became untouchable. Our economies all wiped out within hours and days, as our leaders of nations, industry and commerce are left flabbergasted and fumbling for a clear and positive outcome.

Witnessing the blatancy of behaviours was an astounding cocktail of extremes for survival, following the embargoes from the reverberation of the first ripple of Corona.

 I hope we can find the time to spread a smile and focus on exploring how are we showing up in our lives right now.

Just for today, take a minute to think about how your energy is working with you.

1.   How could you focus your energy on what you can control?

2.   Have you reached out to help and/ or support others?

3.   How loving and kind have you been to your self?

4.   What have you learned about managing your own energy?

5.   How many things are you grateful for?

The universal call is for us to be socially responsible and these small and little things have a direct impact on our energies both of ourselves and of people around us. Even being online does not shield how energy leeks to and from others either negatively or positively, we call it transference.

The helpful lens of looking at things with love can have an equitable effect on our energy. Choosing kindness over fear is intelligent, relevant, relative and creative. When you apply loving energy to a problem you create solutions that really work. You can self-isolate and still join others in being well informed, making wise decisions, and not spreading fear and anxiety.

At times, the stark communication that cascades around the globe seems cold and clinical, focussed on the numbers and data, arousing turbulence and turmoil. What we must remember, is our humility and that we are not a number, we are human beings trying to be human.

Sanitise your thinking as well as your hands. Make healthy choices that will boost your energy and your immune system. It costs nothing to be kind. If you need help, ask for it and if you can be of help, don’t hesitate to offer.  

Acts of loving kindness are the greatest medicine because they heal the giver, receiver and powers your energy.

Energy is contagious: either you affect people or you infect people. T Harv Eker

Be kind with your energy and stay safe!  Kala Flynn

A dance Between chaos and order, Illustration Claudio Nichele