What does it mean to find opportunities in the chaos? I recently spoke with a Federal employee who still has his job in the midst of the chaos of Federal layoffs around him. When I mentioned that I’ve been trying to find order in the chaos, he responded that he was trying to find opportunities in the chaos. His comment stuck with me. We talked about what that means in terms of opportunities to take leadership in some areas where vacuums were created, opportunities to help others left behind to continue the missions after the layoffs, significant changes and chaos. He’s shifting his perspective, finding opportunities in the chaos. It reminded me of what that concept meant from my early childhood memories.
The thunder and lightning intensified. Just then the cable went out and daddy started cursing toward the television. When it was obvious the cable tv would be out for a while, daddy sighed and resigned himself to other forms of entertainment. This was before the age of VCRs, DVDs, and streaming internet television. We had to, gasp 😱, resort to talking with each other more! The adults may have disliked this, but as a young kid I loved it! It meant that if the weather was too bad outside to play and the cable was out, then I got to hear more stories from daddy and mama about their lives at that time and before I was born when they were growing up. It was an opportunity in the chaos of the storm to learn more about them and hear stories that still reside in my memory today long after they both died. I can remember listening to their stories for hours until I fell asleep sometimes in daddy or mama’s arms or lap before they carried me to bed.
Those storm chaos moments when the tv went out, if the power was still on, also created opportunities for Mama to play her records and introduce me to many music genres, artists and songs that are the soundtrack to my life and continue inspiring and motivating me.
Additionally, when we were at Granny Sis and Great Aunt Bobby’s house during a storm and the tv went out, it resulted in opportunities for Great Aunt Bobby to sing songs to me and Granny to tell her stories too. Other relatives used the chaos of the storms to quilt, knit, sew or some other activities producing beautiful artistic items. All opportunities in the chaos.
When I reflect on these childhood stories I’m reminded of the different opportunities that arose out of chaos in our lives throughout history. The music, art, literature, oral storytelling, scientific and medical advancements and more were created during historical periods of chaos. Looking ahead now, what artistic, creative, scientific, leadership, innovative etc. output may be born out of our current state of chaos politically and culturally?
What opportunities do each of you envision creating or contributing to during this chaos? And how may your engagement with these opportunities in chaos provide you, our nation, and the world the resilience needed to not only navigate the chaos to the other side safely but come out on the other side thriving? I encourage each of us to adapt the perspective of my colleague, the Federal employee, embracing opportunities in the chaos. Reflect on your stories for finding opportunities in the chaos of life in the past, and consider how you may do the same now. The well-being of ourselves, our nation, and the world are depending on all of us to find opportunities in the chaos. Today more than ever, All of our stories matter.
