4 Secrets of Happiness in the VUCA world
What is the VUCA World?
Are you in search of happiness in the VUCA world ? If yes you are at the right post.
Our world, as it seems on the globe is not exactly a perfect circle. It has dents on both its sides. Similarly the world we leave in, is not a perfect one. Rather it is becoming more and more imperfect each day.
The 4 key primary factors contributing to this imperfectness is termed as VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity).
Each one of us in some forms of other experience the “VUCAness” in our day today life.
Why we struggle for Happiness?
Many of us are in constant endeavor to control events , people and situations around us. They seek comfort, security, and stability in everything they do . This is because they think that they can bypass the “VUCAness” of the world and as a result they can be in a happy state .But, what if this approach does not work? What if, things around them are not in control? What if, things are not exactly as someone expects? Similar situations are bound to make someone unhappy, who wants to have the full control of the world.
How Antifragility Helps?
In reality VUCA scenarios where things are not in our control are not rare; we experience these quite often in our life. It requires endurance to deal with the uncertainties and complexities that life throws at us. But the way to go ahead is to know how we can build a castle from the stones that the VUCA world throws at us.
Antifragility is the kind opposite of fragility but with a twist. Fragile things break under stress and volatility. On the contrary, antifragility means to improve and grow in adverse situations. It leverages the Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity as the building blocks for change. It’s like a piece of gold whose glitter and shape is harnessed only when exposed to fire and beaten by a hammer, in order to shape up as an beautiful ornament.
Antifragility in human beings is not the same as resilience or robustness. A resilient or robust person resists stress and stays the same. However an antifragile person embraces the VUCA world and change accordingly for the better version .For example, the human body is antifragile. It adapts and strengthens when exposed to physical stress, such as exercise or fasting. The immune system is antifragile. It learns and improves when exposed to pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses. The innovation world is antifragile. It innovates and evolves when exposed to competition and disruption.
Antifragile people do not pursue happiness as a goal, but rather as a consequence of their actions. They do not avoid VUCA world but rather embrace it as the fuel for their improvement. They do not always seek comfort, security, and stability, but rather embrace challenges and changes to become a better version of them each day.
The Get Set Go Happy way
The book Get set go Happy suggest that change is the end result of any transformation. A change that leads to personal growth and upliftment starts with “I” instead of “C”. The tag line for change is described as “If you change, the world changes with you”.
The 4 Secrets for Happiness in VUCA World
One-Expose yourself to small doses of VUCA on a regular basis
This will help building resilience and tolerance for uncertainty. For example, you can try new things, learn new skills, travel to new places, meet new people, or experiment with different ideas.
Two–Seek continuous feedback more often
This will help you learn from your shortcomings and work on the change as required quickly. As they say “Change before you have to”. For example, you can ask for the honest feedback, join a mastermind group, hire a coach or mentor, or read books that disagree with your views.
Three–Embrace failure and risk as opportunities
This will help you overcome your fears and expand your comfort zone. For example, you can set stretch goals, take calculated risks, fail fast and often, or start a side project or business
Four–Focus on the now rather than the end result
This will help you enjoy the journey and avoid disappointment or frustration while you are still perusing something new or trying to being in changes to yourself. For example, you can adopt a growth mind-set, practice gratitude, celebrate small wins, or follow your passion.
To sum it up by being more antifragile in our life, we will increase our chances to thrive in the VUCA world. This in turn will help in attaining a state where our happiness is not dependent on the volatilities of world. Rather we will be able accept life as it comes to us and create happiness on our own terms.
“ Being antifragile is the key secret for happiness in the VUCA World”
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