HOW TO AVOID CHAOS

You can’t- so get used to it. A prime example: while going down in the elevator of my building, I encountered someone in the middle of chaos- texting madly, looking disoriented and distracted. But the good news is there are ways to minimize its impact on you, and to be less reactive when it occurs.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Recognize chaos for what it is. What we commonly call chaos is very often accelerated change that causes abrupt shifts in behavior or attitude. It’s the universe’s way of cleaning house, or making people wake up and move on. It’s not always a bad thing.

2. Be aware when it’s happening around you. You can’t respond properly if you are not aware. And as usual, awareness is the key.

3. Choose your response carefully. When chaos invites you in, always remember that you have a choice. Weigh your responses thoughtfully before joining in.

4. Have a sense of humor about it all. If you join in the chaos in any capacity, or are dragged in unwittingly, maintain some type of detachment if you can. This will allow you to laugh about it, if only to yourself.

5. Realize that chaos is the flip side of stability. This realization will help you get through it all. It is said that we humans get a chance to experience the polarities of human behavior on earth, which is why we’re here in the first place. It helps to keep this in mind. And as Winston Churchill was reputed to have said: “When you’re going through hell keep going.”