Chinese General and Strategist, Sun Tzu reminds us that “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” And while this sounds all well and good, and even a little inspiring, we might still find ourselves wondering, how exactly do we focus on opportunity when we are in the middle of chaos? How do we even begin to look for light when things feel uncertain, overwhelming, or completely out of our control?

The truth is, chaos does not show up the same way for everyone. There are certainly people who love and even thrive in it. If you are a Thronie, you might subscribe to the philosophy that “Chaos is a ladder,” a mindset made popular in Game of Thrones, the idea that disorder can be mounted, leveraged, and turned into growth or advancement.

But there are also many who experience chaos very differently. For some, chaos makes it difficult to focus, to think clearly, or even to breathe. It can feel paralyzing rather than motivating. And that matters, because it reminds us that while chaos may be universal, our responses to it are not.

French impressionist and painter, Paul Cézanne, offers a grounding perspective, “Chaos was the law of nature, Order was the dream of man.” That idea sits with me. It reminds me that chaos is not something new or unusual, it is part of the natural order of things. Life is not always neat, predictable, or structured. Instead, it is constantly shifting, changing, and at times, unraveling.

And yet, as humans, we are wired to seek order. We crave it. We try to build it in our homes, our work, our routines, and even in our thoughts. We plan, we organize, we set goals, all in an effort to create some sense of stability within an inherently unstable world.

Because chaos is both ubiquitous and unpredictable, we are continually challenged to find ways to create our own sense of order within it. Not perfect order, but enough structure to steady ourselves. Enough clarity to take the next step forward.

That might look like pausing instead of reacting. It might look like focusing on one small, manageable thing instead of everything all at once. It might look like simply acknowledging that things feel chaotic, and choosing not to let that chaos define our next move.

Author, Mary Davis, offers a simple but powerful affirmation, “Today I choose calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit, faith over fear.” There is something important in the word, choose. It reminds us that even when we cannot control what is happening around us, we may still have some control over how we respond within it.

That does not mean it is easy. And it does not mean we will always get it right.

But it does suggest that maybe the goal is not to eliminate chaos entirely, because we cannot, but to shift how we see it. To recognize that within chaos, there may be space. Space to pause. Space to reflect. Space to grow. And yes, sometimes, space for opportunity.

So perhaps the work is this, to gently shift our perspective on chaos. To stop seeing it only as something to survive, and begin, when we can, to see it as something we can move through with intention.

And if and when we cannot find the way out right away, maybe it is enough to just look for even the smallest glimmer of light within it. To hold onto that light. To follow it, one step at a time, until we make it through.

Adapt-Create-Repeat, Ms. G.

References

Sun Tzu. (2005). The art of war (T. Cleary, Trans.). Shambhala Publications. (Original work published ca. 5th century BCE)

Game of Thrones. (2013). The climb (Season 3, Episode 6) [TV series episode]. HBO.
(Quote spoken by Petyr Baelish, portrayed by Aidan Gillen.)

Cézanne, Paul. (1904). Letter to Émile Bernard. In J. Rewald (Ed.), Paul Cézanne: Letters (pp. 299–301). Da Capo Press. (Original letter written 1904)

Mary Davis. (n.d.). “Today I choose calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit, faith over fear.” Widely attributed quote.

Adapt, Create, Repeat, Ms. G.