Key Messages
The Benefits Of Adopting A Flux Mindset: Embracing Change And Crafting Your Unique Path
The world today is in an ever-evolving state, leaving many feeling anxious and uncertain.
We’re all trying to keep our lives running with a familiar script, but the external changes that are constantly happening make our old script futile.
The good news is that by learning to adopt a flux mindset and harnessing ‘Flux Superpowers’, we can flip our script and stay afloat in this continuously changing environment.
An example of this is appreciating other cultures which can help us broaden our perspectives, as opposed to sticking to what we’re used to and being closed off from new experiences.
We can also learn to trust others and rely less on only what we know in order for us to be able to create innovation.
Lastly, experimenting with different jobs or skills instead of persisting with one particular career trajectory will help equip ourselves for whatever changes may come along in life.
Slow Down And Listen To Your True Self To Thrive In A Fast-Paced World
In our fast-paced world, the advice of your old script might have told you to run as fast as you can to keep up.
But if you want to truly thrive, it’s time to start slowing down.
This doesn’t mean becoming lazy or stagnant – it means focusing on your core values and making decisions that are guided by those principles rather than chasing after unrealistic goals.
By doing this, you’ll be able to make wiser decisions, avoid stress, and improve your wellbeing – in the end being more productive than when trying to beat a nonexistent finish line.
The author knew this firsthand; after her parents died in a car crash during her final year of college at Oxford, she nearly succumbed to the pressure of living life at breakneck speed.
She was encouraged to jump into graduate programs or land jobs that paid very well, but instead decided to find what made most sense for her in terms of taking a slower pace.
Taking it slow doesn’t mean extreme measures – like quitting your job or traveling across Europe – though those often help with perspective.
Anytime is a good time for slowing down; try taking five minutes every day where you sit in complete silence and really tune into yourself and your environment.
This will give way to not just external discoveries but internal ones too.
The True Superpower: Seeing What’S Invisible In Uncertain Times
When life throws us a curveball, we often look to the tangible things – things we can see, touch and understand.
We don’t often consider that there may be invisible forces at play.
The Iroquois people of North America believe deeply in orenda, the power of nature‘s energies that exist both between living beings and within inanimate objects.
To them, this invisible power guides their vision quests and allows them to connect with their guardian spirits.
If we too are able to “see what’s invisible”, like the Iroquois do, it can help us understand our own lives better and confront the changes that come our way with more grace and certainty.
One way of doing this is by being able to recognise our privileges – those ways in which our lives have been influenced by factors outside of our control or influence.
Being aware of your privilege helps you view change from a broader perspective – a perspective you’re likely not used to seeing due to your social conditioning – allowing you more opportunities to make innovative choices with how you might deal with the new development.
It’s also important to reckon with our own intentions – what we actually want out of life – as they shape how we handle such life events.
Taking the time adjust these intentions accordingly would result in different approaches one can take when presented with change which may not have been considered before.
So when the future feels uncertain, actively seeking out what’s invisible – whether it be accounting for your privilege or rediscovering your intentions – could be just what you need to find direction and clarity in times turbulence.
Embrace Getting Lost: Finding Freedom In The Unknown
Sometimes getting lost can be a good thing.
In Flux, Amitav Ghosh encourages us to embrace what’s unknown instead of fearing it.
He believes that if we can find the courage to get lost, then we have the opportunity to start afresh and write our own stories.
One way of doing this is by understanding coddiwomple — a verb meaning travelling with purpose towards an unknow destination.
It encourages us to explore the unknown with intention and enthusiasm.
Taking risks often leads to discovering delightful surprises too — like in Romania when one of Ghosh’s travellers ended up being invited for dinner at an elderly Romanian woman’s home after getting lost!
To take on a traveler’s mindset even without leaving your house, consider what you know about your immediate environment — like your neighborhood or backyard — and then look for gaps in your knowledge which you can explore without reliance on the GPS app!
Finally, when life throws curveballs at you during times of flux, remember that it’s alright to experience feeling of being lost.
Acceptance may be hard but it doesn’t mean you’re faltering — view changes not as obstacles but as opportunities that can positively alter the course of your life!
The Value Of Trust: Why It Is Crucial To Build Systems Based On Faith And Cooperation
TRUSTWORTHINESS is a core value that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Often we find ourselves weary to trust the motives of others and construct walls to keep us safe.
What we don’t always consider is how this could stand in the way of our personal growth or even negatively influence humanity at large.
When evaluating our interactions with other people and organizations, it’s critical that we value trustworthiness in our living and work practices.
We need to shift our perspective so that trustworthiness is seen as the norm rather than viewed as a rarity.
When we design systems based on trust, new discoveries can be made and innovation found in ways which wouldn’t otherwise be achievable.
Take BlaBlaCar for example; this global ride-sharing platform provides users with the opportunity to hitch a ride with drivers heading in their direction — all based on mutual trust!
Additionally, Wikipedia has established an online encyclopedia which allows worldwide users collaborate to build an expansive resource — again built on trust.
By embracing these examples as well as others, it helps demonstrate that valuing trustworthiness leads to inventive solutions for the future.
You can also measure whether your organization falls into a trustworthy profile by simply examining current policies imposed throughout your business.
If mistrust became apparent at any point, then evaluate what may have caused it and determine correctives you can take moving forward such as keeping books open or allowing employees to set their bonuses/salaries themselves etc… Working together towards valuing trustworthiness & reciprocating it will create an environment of collaboration & connection; ones which are essential for forging constructive relationships, enhancing personal development, & cultivating change within humanity!
Know Your “Enough”: Define Success On Your Own Terms And Strive For Contentment, Not Excess
In a world that values consumption and accumulation of more goods and services, it’s important to recognise your enough.
Instead of focusing on external metrics such as money, success and fame, consider shifting your focus to internal satisfaction, relationships, meaning and helping others.
Knowing your enough is also about managing the things that weigh you down – this may include unsubscribing from newsletters or donating long-unworn items of clothing.
At a society-wide level, questions surrounding our enough should also be asked.
Automation has caused widespread concern with workers wondering if there will be enough work available to earn an income sufficient to meet expenses.
In response Sweden introduced income support and retraining initiatives for those whose livelihoods were impacted by automation.
This system functions thanks to Swedish taxpayers who back these measures.
Know your enough in an era of abundance – focus inwardly rather than externally and manage the things which you have too much of.
Ultimately realising what just enough means for you can lead to greater contentment that lasts far beyond fleeting feelings induced by external events or consumerism.
Create A Portfolio Career To Succeed In An Ever-Changing World
Sticking to a linear path isn’t the only way to approach your career anymore.
In fact, the vast majority of new U.S.
job creation in recent years hasn’t included full-time jobs – and pandemics have only accelerated that trend!
This means that you don’t have to limit yourself when it comes to your professional life – you can take on multiple roles in different fields or a variety of activities simultaneously in order to build a unique and fulfilling portfolio career.
Such is the case for Alex Cole, a friend of the author who spent a decade each in marketing, entertainment and consulting before opening a yoga studio with his family.
You could also follow the example of Diane Mulcahy, who works as a strategist, finance whiz, author and lecturer depending on the season.
Having multiple income sources from varied roles gives you more security than sticking in one role while diversifying your professional identity at the same time.
The key is to identify what skills, expertise and strengths you already possess, along with discovering what specific job opportunities might be available given your unique set of skills; like being a lawyer passionate about history and biking able to offer legal advice for travel companies!
So whether it’s exploring other interests or simply adapting your existing ones as necessary, think of your career as an ever-evolving portfolio rather than just one single path!
Boost Your Digital Intelligence To Prioritize Your Humanity In An Increasingly Tech-Focused World
With advancing technology, it is becoming increasingly easy to live a “heads-down” lifestyle.
We find ourselves spending more and more time with our gadgets instead of with each other, which can lead to an increase in depression among adults.
To properly navigate this technological world, it is necessary to prioritize one’s humanity, or the essential qualities of being human.
One way to achieve this goal is by improving one’s digital intelligence — understanding how to use technology responsibly and safely.
Developing skills around digital communications, digital safety, digital rights, and digital identity are all components of having a high level of digital intelligence.
It involves knowing when it’s best to engage with people face-to-face rather than over devices and keeping track of one’s online reputation.
Having a strong sense of digital intelligence can also benefit those who are grieving online; as it helps them identify genuine supporters and ask for help when they need it.
Prioritizing your humanity means having empathy for others facing difficulties and learning how you can support them effectively instead of just sending automated messages encouraging them stay strong.
Ultimately, you must allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to ask for help when needed, which can be difficult if we are used to presenting only our strongest face on the Internet.
Let Go Of The Future To Embrace A Brighter Life
Letting go of expectations is key to crafting a brighter future.
This shift in mindset allows you to focus on what you can control – how you respond to and navigate the present moment.
To do this, it takes three distinct shifts.
The first shift is from predicting the future to preparing for it.
Predicting the future isn’t possible, but preparing for it is.
Take time to recognize different paths your life can take and ask yourself if you can find joy and peace in any of them.
By doing this, you open yourself up to a new range of options for your future that could otherwise go unseen.
The second shift is from expecting that things will go as planned to anticipating change.
Rather than being blindsided by unexpected events, practice responding proactively.
Life throws us curveballs all the time, so learning how to expect that change can occur helps us stay level-headed when it does happen.
The third shift is from focusing on the known to expanding into the unknown.
All too often, we get stuck in ruts because we focus only on scenarios we’ve encountered before or worry about potential pitfalls down the line instead of exploring possibilities outside our limited perspective and taking risks where necessary.
Once we accept that thing are constantly changing and our futures cannot be entirely predicted or understood, we free ourselves up for greater possibilities and hope in times of transition or crisis.
By making these shifts in our own lives and leaning into change with hope instead fear, we open up our lives to better experiences, outcomes, opportunities – whatever lies ahead!
Wrap Up
Flux by Annabelle Brown provides an important message on how to best deal with the uncertainty of change in life: slow down, reconnect with your core values and take risks as opportunity not something to be afraid of.
By embracing these valuable strategies, individuals can stay one step ahead and make more workable decisions.
This book is also a great reminder that life is constantly in flux and new possibilities come up when the old ways of thinking no longer apply.
To get started now towards adopting a flux mindset and living better in an ever-changing world, try writing down all the uncertainties you’re facing right now plus how each makes you feel.
Then, find ways to approach each one with openness, confidence and a sense of adventure so you can move forward positively as challenges present themselves.
