Great article, Vanessa! I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with my husband about building resilience in the past years. And we’re still looking at ways to build that into our lives. Exercising, worrying less, focusing on one thing at a time and understanding that some things are simply not in my hands have been some of my ways to cope with change.
I especially like the part about having only one reason to do something. I work a lot on instinct but I noticed that I’ve got very good at convincing myself to do things I don’t want to do. This is not good for my health.
I read in your Note that Covid was what motivated you to actively try & become more resilient. It was the same for me! Not that anything life-changing happened to me but just living through & observing the pandemic made me want to make decisions specifically with antifragility in mind going forward.
About having only one reason to do something -- yes, it's not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you might think you only have one reason but it's actually the loudest of several. Or you think you have several small reasons but they're actually just one overarching reason broken up into smaller chunks. Idk why we equate having a lot of reasons with the thing being more valid. It should be quality over quantity. And it's never easy to be honest with yourself...
The Covid experience was very strange. I was doing well for the first year. I started getting more into tea, I was working (from home) and didn't get a salary cut, I was spending time with my husband. But exactly one (and many lockdowns) later it suddenly shifted 180 degrees. It went from his to low in a matter of days and I couldn't stand the situation anymore. I had one year of resilience in me. And I did too little to prepare for anything beyond that year. I was waiting for it to pass. I didn't live with the situation. I didn't embrace it.
There's something about the one reason to do something. It's still not clear to me either, but maybe it goes in the direction of simply wanting to do something. No other reason. Isn't this the purest form of existence?
You thought you were coping well… until you weren’t. Definitely relatable! It’s hard to remember without going into my journal now but it might have been the other way around for me. At first, I compulsively checked the news all the time. I usually don’t read/watch any news, it’s too unhealthy for me but during Covid, of course I wanted to stay informed etc. etc. I learned & stopped eventually. The other big thing was living with my parents during lockdown(s). In retrospect, I’m glad for it but at the time, it was hard for multiple reasons. Long story short, I really had to move out but couldn’t for a long time.
Wanting to do something, yes! It all comes down to the old “know thyself” though - first, you need to know what you really want, no excuses. Then go for it.
This is a solid essay, was not expecting that when I started reading. I appreciate the structure you utilized to break down antifragility and the strategies you have developed through the sources you pulled from. The most difficult aspect for me in practicing this in my life is having acceptance and patience: I want change and I want it now!…(well change that means me getting what I THINK I want lol). Thanks for posting this!
Great essay and great sentiments on being antifragile. I really like that term and a lot of these thoughts.
I have often felt that feeling out one's own luck by attuning to it and being open to it is the way to live. It has certainly helped me, and for that I feel very grateful.
The short bursts of intense productivity and rallying against hustle culture is absolutely what I need more of in my life.
Thank you, Nathan! I didn't know you look out for luck too, is there anything specific that you're doing in your particular life situation? Even if it's something already mentioned in the essay, I'm curious.
I don't know, to be honest. It's hard to describe, and sometimes it borders on feelings of fate which, as a scientist, there's a harder time believing in. Sometimes things just feel "right" or "wrong" to pursue and there's no direct way to interpreting things other than feeling attuned to instinct and attuned to the myriad ways in which a given situation can pan out. My father likes to catastrophise by imagining all possible ramifications of an action or scenario and, although I inherited some of that, I much prefer to put it to good use by feeling my way through the world. Doesn't always help, of course, but there have been enough moments in my life now when I can appreciate the help it has given me.
Hmm yes, you might just do some of the things I described intuitively. To be honest, I've always felt I was "lucky" too although it's hard to say how much of that is positive mindset & believing that things will work out in my favour. Belief can be a powerful tool, after all. But that's exactly why I find this so fascinating, it's hard to point to one factor & go: this is how you engineer luck. It's a challenge!
Great article, Vanessa! I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with my husband about building resilience in the past years. And we’re still looking at ways to build that into our lives. Exercising, worrying less, focusing on one thing at a time and understanding that some things are simply not in my hands have been some of my ways to cope with change.
I especially like the part about having only one reason to do something. I work a lot on instinct but I noticed that I’ve got very good at convincing myself to do things I don’t want to do. This is not good for my health.
I read in your Note that Covid was what motivated you to actively try & become more resilient. It was the same for me! Not that anything life-changing happened to me but just living through & observing the pandemic made me want to make decisions specifically with antifragility in mind going forward.
About having only one reason to do something -- yes, it's not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you might think you only have one reason but it's actually the loudest of several. Or you think you have several small reasons but they're actually just one overarching reason broken up into smaller chunks. Idk why we equate having a lot of reasons with the thing being more valid. It should be quality over quantity. And it's never easy to be honest with yourself...
Anyway, best of luck in your quest as well!
The Covid experience was very strange. I was doing well for the first year. I started getting more into tea, I was working (from home) and didn't get a salary cut, I was spending time with my husband. But exactly one (and many lockdowns) later it suddenly shifted 180 degrees. It went from his to low in a matter of days and I couldn't stand the situation anymore. I had one year of resilience in me. And I did too little to prepare for anything beyond that year. I was waiting for it to pass. I didn't live with the situation. I didn't embrace it.
There's something about the one reason to do something. It's still not clear to me either, but maybe it goes in the direction of simply wanting to do something. No other reason. Isn't this the purest form of existence?
You thought you were coping well… until you weren’t. Definitely relatable! It’s hard to remember without going into my journal now but it might have been the other way around for me. At first, I compulsively checked the news all the time. I usually don’t read/watch any news, it’s too unhealthy for me but during Covid, of course I wanted to stay informed etc. etc. I learned & stopped eventually. The other big thing was living with my parents during lockdown(s). In retrospect, I’m glad for it but at the time, it was hard for multiple reasons. Long story short, I really had to move out but couldn’t for a long time.
Wanting to do something, yes! It all comes down to the old “know thyself” though - first, you need to know what you really want, no excuses. Then go for it.
This is a solid essay, was not expecting that when I started reading. I appreciate the structure you utilized to break down antifragility and the strategies you have developed through the sources you pulled from. The most difficult aspect for me in practicing this in my life is having acceptance and patience: I want change and I want it now!…(well change that means me getting what I THINK I want lol). Thanks for posting this!
I should clarify the first sentence of my reply: I was not expecting NONFICTION when I started reading…😊
Great essay and great sentiments on being antifragile. I really like that term and a lot of these thoughts.
I have often felt that feeling out one's own luck by attuning to it and being open to it is the way to live. It has certainly helped me, and for that I feel very grateful.
The short bursts of intense productivity and rallying against hustle culture is absolutely what I need more of in my life.
Thank you, Nathan! I didn't know you look out for luck too, is there anything specific that you're doing in your particular life situation? Even if it's something already mentioned in the essay, I'm curious.
I don't know, to be honest. It's hard to describe, and sometimes it borders on feelings of fate which, as a scientist, there's a harder time believing in. Sometimes things just feel "right" or "wrong" to pursue and there's no direct way to interpreting things other than feeling attuned to instinct and attuned to the myriad ways in which a given situation can pan out. My father likes to catastrophise by imagining all possible ramifications of an action or scenario and, although I inherited some of that, I much prefer to put it to good use by feeling my way through the world. Doesn't always help, of course, but there have been enough moments in my life now when I can appreciate the help it has given me.
Hmm yes, you might just do some of the things I described intuitively. To be honest, I've always felt I was "lucky" too although it's hard to say how much of that is positive mindset & believing that things will work out in my favour. Belief can be a powerful tool, after all. But that's exactly why I find this so fascinating, it's hard to point to one factor & go: this is how you engineer luck. It's a challenge!