UNCERTAINTY SHOULD IGNITE CREATIVITY AND NOT COMPLACENCY

What is uncertainty?

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to find comfort in patterns, in the predictability of things. Our routines are what help us remain sane. But what happens when all sense of time is lost? When the world is turned upside down, our ‘routines’ lost, and there is no telling what could happen next? That, is what we call uncertainty – not knowing the next step, feeling lost in the ambiguity and variability of circumstances. However, as scary as it may seem, this can be turned into an opportunity, as uncertainty should ignite creativity and not complacency.

Choices while facing Uncertainty

In the face of uncertainty, different people react differently – some refuse to accept change and find solace in their old methods, while others readily accept, and even welcome change, seeing it as an opportunity to grow and evolve. This is consistent with our ancestors’ first set of reactions towards a crisis – fight or flight.

Dealing with Uncertainty – Fight or Flight

In today’s world, these responses are often attributed to different personality types. People with the ‘fight’ personality often tend to be optimistic and creative, with a headstrong approach to uncertain situations. On the other hand, people with a ‘flight’ personality type tend to turn their back towards problems. Their own ambivalence traps them within their thoughts, rendering them frustrated and complacent, fearful as to what may happen next.

Let us take the greatest example we have in front of us; the Corona Virus Pandemic; to illustrate the different personalities and their varying responses to uncertainty.

With fear lingering in the air and our very future indefinite, we all feel threatened. We may be in lock-down, with restrictions after restrictions imposed on us, but we must not allow that to put a spoke in the wheels.

Uncertainty in practice

Let us consider two Principals of competing schools, and their reactions to the pandemic. The Principal with the ‘flight’ personality would turn her back towards the problems. She would put things on hold and wait for the crisis to blow over. She would refuse to take a solution-oriented approach to resolve the problems and would not even acknowledge the gravity of the situation. As a result, the students would suffer as their education would be put on a hold.

Uncertainty – an opportunity!

On the other hand, the Principal with the ‘fight’ personality would face the uncertainty and tackle the new challenges head-on, using it as an opportunity to embark on a digital transformation journey. She would introduce e-learning and other creative solutions. She would reassure the parents and students, and embrace the uncertainty and change despite the distress it causes. Her proficiency and optimistic attitude results in continued, and even improved education for the students.

I am reminded of the words of the American basketball player and coach John Wooden, the first person ever enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a coach:

“Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.”

John Wooden

The second Principal exemplifies this very concept.

Creativity over Complacency in the wake of uncertainty

As we know, humans are extremely adaptive by nature. In uncertain situations, the ambiguity can sometimes prove to be frustrating, and lead to complacency. However, if we adopt a positive and creative approach, we can find the fringe benefit in every situation. With the example of the two Principals’ responses, there is not even an iota of doubt in my mind that the best way to battle uncertain situations is with creativity. Or in other words uncertainty should ignite creativity.

Uncertainty sparking the creativity

It is true that to achieve something we have never achieved; we must do something we have never done before. By extension, when tackling uncertain and unprecedented situations, we must think of creative and unprecedented solutions.

Rebutting excuses

The casual observer may conclude that the differing responses of the two principals was driven by their personalities. However, we need to scratch beneath the surface. Instead of looking at personality types, which are merely surface level manifestations of our cognition, we need to diagnose and control the way our mind works.

Role of Meta-cognition

This leads us to the most important question; how do we change the neural circuitry of our brain to change our response to uncertainty? Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman’s theory of System 1 or Fast Thinking and System 2 or Slow Thinking helps us get a better insight. The first Principal in our anecdote is a prisoner of Fast Thinking, i.e. the automated way of thinking. This thought process involves an automatic response where the person processes events based on past experiences and the person is likely to react in the same way as earlier.

In contrast, the System 2 thinker, slows things down. She reflects on the circumstances and analyses the situation rather than applying standard recipes. Instead, she looks at creative ways of handling uncertain situations. Slow Thinking allows her mind to search for alternatives and generate new ideas.

Uncertainty Should Ignite Creativity

Whether we look through the lens of personality types or through the higher order field of meta-cognition, we reach the same conclusion. Uncertainty should spark creativity and not lead to a complacent attitude. In order to thrive and not just survive in the VUCA (volatile uncertain complex and ambiguous) world, we must be at our creative best.

Editor’s Note:

In these times, it has become cliched to say that uncertainty is the only certainty. More importantly, how do we ignite creativity in uncertain times? And, how do we tide over complacency? Every dark cloud has a silver lining and Google’s Featured Snippet extracts from this article to provide some creative insights.

Read about how to use perception to create a platform for innovation and fuel evolution and also about about how “we can use ‘Affirmations‘ to boost self-esteem, build up confidence, and create a more fulfilling and rapturous life for our self, day by day” by the same author Tanvee Maheshwari.

About Tanvee Maheshwari

As a create-a-preneur, Tanvee Maheshwari is passionate about creating and sharing knowledge that helps people align with their innate potential.

She enjoys learning and honing her skills across diverse domains, including Psychology, Public Speaking and Entrepreneurship. She is also a budding Voice Over Artist and Content Creator.

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