Day 216: Living in a VUCA World

When we look back at 2020, I’ll wonder what we’ll think. We started out the year with the US attacking Iran and for a few short days, we thought war would break out. Then we saw the Australian brushfires spread across the continent down under and how people became sick from how thick the smoke was from the fires. Next the coronavirus pandemic spread across the world and as I write this in June, protests have broken out across America as various groups march against police brutality and the death of George Floyd. The protests are spreading and growing to encompass people wishing to ban the confederate flag and pull down statues of former slave owners all across America.

We’re only halfway through 2020 and already I feel like we’ve lived through a decade of change.

I came across the term VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) that I think nicely describes what we’re living through. Our world is going through a complex and rapid set of changes that are affecting billions of people across the globe.

If you grew up in an alcoholic/dysfunctional family like me, then you might not have known the term “VUCA” but I have a feeling that you’re familiar with how it feels to live in such conditions. Half the time, I didn’t know what to expect while growing up. I learned how to adapt and be quick to adjust to new conditions.

One year we lived in an apartment, the next back at my grandparents. We had money, we didn’t have money. I had a father in my life, didn’t, then a stepfather, and then didn’t have either. By the time I went to sixth grade in middle school, I had attended four different schools.

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Yep, that nicely describes what I lived through.

Now the world is going through such a time and the coping mechanisms we used as children may not be healthy ones to get us through the difficult times ahead.

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I think it’s clear to see that the pandemic will be around until we have a vaccine. And if you live in America, we have a contentious Presidential election coming up in November.

With 45 million Americans out of work, a pandemic, protests in the streets, a critical election ahead, and everyone trying to learn how to adapt to a post-COVID-19 world, we have a lot to deal with on the macro level.

Unfortunately, we still have all our personal struggles to deal with as well.

Now is the time to invest in yourself and in building out healthy tools to deal with the stress and anxiety ahead.


In the business world, Bill George, a senior fellow at Harvard Business school, believes that VUCA 2.0 is needed to counteract the volatility and uncertainty of a VUCA time. What does VUCA 2.0 stand for? George has defined it as: “Vision, Understanding, Courage and Adaptability.”

When global problems feel beyond your control, you can focus on strengthening yourself. Just because the world might be on fire doesn’t mean that we need to feel that way inside.

The path ahead is complex and uncertain. The good news is that there are proven tools to help you regain stability in your life.

In my childhood, my father chose drugs, alcohol, and violence to deal with challenging times.

Now, decades later, I have a similar choice to make. I’m choosing to embark on strengthening the skills I need to adapt:

  • Learn ways to deal with stress (meditation, mindfulness)

  • Strengthen communication skills

  • Build self-esteem

  • Parent yourself to find happiness

The hurt and pain we lived through as children can be healed. And the uncertainty ahead can also be overcome. We need to admit what’s coming, be flexible and adapt, and learn new skills.

Will this be difficult? Yes.

What’s the alternative? You already lived through that.

The good news is that you’re not alone.


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