ADAPTATION
“It is not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent, that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
—Charles Darwin, English naturalist, geologist and biologist.
Our ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of environments is one of the most defining characteristics of our species.
“The measure of intelligence
is the ability to change.”
—German-born theoretical physicist.
Life can be difficult to navigate especially in a rapidly changing environment. Our ability to adapt has always been an essential survival tool. And this ability will only prove more essential during the technological revolution, which will usher in a tsunami of social, political and technological change.
Nothing in our experience can adequately prepare us for what the world will be like thirty years from now. The changes that will be created by artificial intelligence, genomics, blockchain technology, 3-D printing, cloud computing, robotics and the internet of things are likely to exceed our wildest imagination. Industries will change, employment will change, governments will change. Social, religious and political institutions that have existed for centuries will experience radical and unprecedented change. The need for adaptation will therefore be critical. Lifelong learning and reskilling will be essential to keep pace with changing technology.
How we adapt to changing circumstances has a major influence on our health and well-being. Unhealthy adaptations include paranoia, passive aggression, projection and fantasy. Healthy adaptations include humor, anticipation (planning for change) and sublimation (channeling aggression into exercise or sports). Embrace change as a positive. Allow it to help
you grow as an individual. Use it to help you to develop mentally and physically.
Don’t fear change—celebrate it.
Instead of thinking about how things can go wrong, think about how things can go right.Accept some uncertainty as a normal part of life. Don’t expect to know everything or assume that everything will be perfect. Accept each ending with a sense of gratitude and each beginning with a sense of excitement.
Create strategies for tackling new problems and meeting new challenges. Be alert to opportunities and open to new experiences. If you experience self-doubt, think about all the things that you have accomplished in the past. Reflect upon your qualities and competencies until you feel assured.
When resilient people face ambiguity and anxiety, they use the experience to grow stronger.
Resilient people embrace change
and excel at adaptation.
They identify opportunities in adverse environments and believe in their ability to succeed in the face of uncertainty. They have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish and they use this vision to guidethem through uncertainty. They employ creativity to generate ideas and approaches for responding to change. They draw on others for support, guidance and assistance and act in the face of uncertainty, taking calculated risks rather than seeking the false comfort of complacency.
Depending on the situation, one of these traits may be more important than another. One situation may require you to be flexible while another may require you to think of a wide range of options. Still another might require you to stay focused on your objective.
Each of these characteristics can be developed through practice, mindfulness, meditation and self-affirmation. Every change creates opportunity and every successful adaptation makes you stronger.
