The Lockbuster Principle | Coincidental Use of Complex Adaptive System Theory in My Life

Ever felt like you're stuck in quicksand, no matter how hard you try to escape? Maybe you're trapped in a dead-end job or haunted by a lingering loneliness that refuses to leave. Life spirals from bad to worse, leaving you drowning in helplessness. I've been there, but I've discovered a quirky, reliable life-hack: the lock-buster principle.

When life throws me into gridlock, I hit the brakes and step away from the challenge. Instead, I divert my attention to something else, a long-forgotten corner of my life where I can create a bit of change—a seemingly irrelevant detour from the original challenge. Lo and behold, this shift in focus often works like a magical key, unlocking the gridlocked area of my life. At first, I thought these breakthroughs were just amusing coincidences, or perhaps my mind playing tricks. But on closer inspection, I realised there's a logical, maybe even scientific, basis for this phenomenon?!

The secret sauce behind the lock-buster principle lies in complexity science and complex adaptive system theory. These fascinating fields examine how interconnected systems and their components dance together, adapting and evolving in a mesmerising tango. In complex adaptive systems, a tiny alteration in one part can lead to big surprises elsewhere, as components continuously influence and respond to each other.

As humans, we're living, breathing complex adaptive systems. Our lives are intricate webs of interconnected elements—relationships, careers, health, and personal growth. We're influenced by a kaleidoscope of factors that shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions, continuously evolving in response to the world around us.

This complexity makes it possible for changes in one area of our lives to create a ripple effect on seemingly unrelated areas.

For instance, I remember dealing with a stressful family situation that left me feeling utterly stuck. Instead of wallowing in frustration, I decided to ignore it for a day or two and shifted my focus to helping a couple of friends. We caught up, and I engaged them in coaching conversations. Through these interactions, I started developing empathy and gaining new perspectives, which ultimately allowed me to see my own situation in a different light. With these fresh insights, I went back to my family challenge and tackled it with renewed energy and understanding.

In today's VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, we're constantly facing change and unpredictability. The lock-buster principle can be used in different contexts, all we need to know is that solution to life's problems do not come around a linear fashion, sometimes all we need to do is to change our focus and work on a different problem. By focusing on seemingly unrelated parts of our lives and making positive tweaks, we can create a ripple effect that leads to breakthroughs and resilience in the face of chaos.

The lock-buster principle encourages us to embrace life's complexities and the ever-changing world we inhabit. It shows us that the key to overcoming obstacles and thriving in a VUCA world might be hidden in shifting our focus and energy to different areas, allowing unexpected connections and opportunities to arise.

This is article is an expansion of similar ideas I have shared before, I am now trying to bring more logic and reason as to why this approach can work. Interested to hear your thoughts around this topic.