Creative Destruction
Four friends sit in my apartment, each in a private state of disarray, sticky from the remnants of a summer Saturday afternoon. I am somewhat retracted, knowing that it’ll be the last time we’d occupy this space in this specific formulation. We’re all on the cusp of radical change; marriage, migration, career transitions — merely representations of internal rumblings.
In a sudden moment of despair, my friend exclaims “this is like an earthquake — I don’t like change!” I scoff at her outburst, pointing out that she is the ultimate seeker of transformation; she digs deep, far and wide to understand the root of why we are who we are, and practices this exploration daily — for herself and for others. Maybe her opposition to change was a defense mechanism for not being in control. Our collective freak outs ebb and flow, eventually blending with excitement for the new.
During seismic changes; the decision making process is the shifting of tectonic plates, and actions taken can cause an earthquake. Regardless of the number on the richter scale — one’s ability to respond to the change depends on the strength of their foundations. As I stretch this metaphor, causes of “natural” disasters can indeed be natural, but the impact of their destruction correlates to the integrity of the infrastructure in question.
Earlier this year, I participated in a retreat that I won’t elaborate much on, except to share two take-aways. First was a promise to walk away with a sense of clarity, authenticity and integrity in our lives and within ourselves. Second, was a personal keystone challenge to “overcome the impossibility within”. Through dedicated time for deep reflection, we take stock of our lives and lifestyle choices. With that comes a slow unraveling of what no longer adds up.
As I knock on the facade of the city I’ve called home for the last few years, I recognize a vast emptiness on the inside. What holds this city up for me are my people; the relationships I’ve nurtured over the past few years are the foundations of who I am. Luckily, people exist beyond the confines of one city — and we have the whole world as our avenue to develop our friendships, endlessly. My decision to leave Dubai and join my sister to grow her travel business almost seems predestined. As I take this decision, everything feels undoubted, it all makes sense and falls into place; I am in my state of flow.
Sometimes you’re charged to pull the rug from underneath you, other times, change catches you by surprise. Systems thinker Donella Meadows says, resilience is about elasticity, it’s “the ability to bounce or spring back into shape after being pressed or stretched”. Invest in resilience training that equips you on how to respond — that’s what we have a grip on, or at least the illusion of it.
