“Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.” ~ Henry B. Adams
Like many of us, I grew up thinking that things happened in a linear way - first this, then that, one building block upon another in a definite order — cause and effect. But over the years, I’ve noticed that when you have a larger vision and experience that vision as though it has already happened, things tend to occur in a whole different way. Often what we experience is a chain of seemingly disjointed events that are in reality very connected.
Think of watching a movie of a glass shattering, only in reverse motion. Pieces fly together from all directions in a disjointed fashion and assemble into a perfect whole. Each piece is absolutely necessary, though in and of itself incomplete and inconceivably connected to a larger picture.
We will experience ups and downs and travel down roads that deviate from what we originally anticipated. Nevertheless, these seemingly divergent paths may in fact be prerequisite to experiencing the totality of our vision. At times the healing process entails pain, discomfort or other symptoms. While we may point to these as signs of illness, we could alternatively consider them evidence of our recovery. Similarly, a phase of growth and expansion is often preceded by a period where things unexpectedly fall away. We can look at the void as a loss, or recognize it as the space necessary for new creations to take root and flourish.
Though we may not realize the significance or relevance of our chaotic experiences until much later, in hindsight we often realize the importance of enduring specific challenges, setbacks, delays, or what felt like irrelevant nuisances. These obstacles give us a greater perspective on who we are, deeper appreciation for where we have been and where we are going, and compassion for others who have experiences similar to our own.
As we rise up to these little challenges, we find strength we didn’t know we had and realize we are far greater than we thought we were. And as leaders, we can help others appreciate and leverage their own chaos as well.
Image credit: aloshbennett
About Diane Bolden
