At the beginning of the year something happened that shook me off my equilibrium of discipline, order and structure. Let me be clear here, this doesn’t have to be something bad – it can be a very pleasant thing and it can still bring chaos to life. This state of chaos got me curious – how can I use it? What can it bring me? So, I did a little research as I allowed myself to feel its benefits.
The word “chaos” comes from the Greek word “Khaos”, meaning “gaping void”. Mathematicians say chaos is tough to define, but one can easily recognise it when they see it or feel it – a state of complete disorder and confusion. Because as human beings we love predictability, we have a natural desire to control and order the chaos that surrounds us. We plan our days, weeks and even years. Some even make 5 year plans. But, the truth is that life is very unpredictable and no matter how well you plan, you cannot plan for the unexpected.
“We live within this manifested idea of what should be form, and what we try and keep out of our existence is chaos, which is a very real part of our lives, and our refusal to accept chaos as being integral to our existence, I think, has been one of the greatest mistakes as a civilization that we’ve made.” David Bowie
So, what can chaos bring us?
For sure, it brings us unpredictability and surprise. Uncertainty, but also novelty. Creativity. Innovation. Spontaneity. Excitement. New ideas. Opportunities. Joy.
“Without chaos we are too stable to reorganise. We are too inflexible to adapt and change”, says Ashli Akins in her TED talk “The creativity of chaos“.
She goes on to say “…what’s exciting about that chaos point, is that that is the moment where we have the most potential for creativity.”
In order to embrace chaos and feel its benefits, there is one thing we need to do, which is not so easy – but, it is possible! We need to let go of control.
Once we let go, little miracles begin happening.
- Let go of planning everything and be open to the unplanned.
- Let go of expectations of others or situations, you are only in control of yourself.
- Let go of controlling how others perceive you or how they behave, it is theirs.
- Let go of the past, it is there to inform you.
- Let go of predicting the future, you can’t! Instead, embrace not knowing what will happen. This is the ultimate freedom
When we let life unfold naturally, it all becomes easy.
“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” Friedrich Nietzsche
To continue, another announcement,
At this unique NLP Practitioner course with an international certificate from the NLP co-creator John Grinder you will learn how to use the most powerful NLP tools to help yourself and others get more from life. The course focus is on self-application. The skills you will learn can be applied in all walks of life where communication excellence, peak performance, rapport, goal setting and personal change are invaluable strengths. They have a lifelong application for use across different areas ranging from family communication, to business influence and life leadership.
Module I begins on the 17th of February in Skopje, Macedonia and on10th of March in Vienna, Austria. You can also join online. So, join us!
You can read about the course details here.
Now before we close, let me brag a bit…
Finally, the redesign of the VIANLP website is done 🎉
Check it out and read all about the upcoming events!
To close…
My message for the month of February is:
Let chaos in and be open to what it brings.
Conversation starters:
(Inspiration and Information Sources)
I’m reading, watching and listening to:
- Womenby Charles Bukowski
- HEALING–Beyond Pills & Potions: Core Principles for Helpers & Healers by Steve Bierman, MD
- My Husbanda selection of stories by Rumena Bužarovska
- Official Competition, Spanish-Argentine film directed by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn with the brilliant Penélope Cruz
- Moonage Daydream, a film by Brett Morgen about David Bowie
- Čokolada – album released 1983 by Idoli, considered to be one of the best selling Yugoslav records