Whether it’s global headlines, workplace transitions, or personal challenges, we’re all navigating some form of disruption these days.
Chaos Is Inevitable. Here’s How to Use It.
Some of us lean into it more easily than others—but as leaders of our own lives (and beyond), we must learn to meet chaos with conviction, emotional steadiness, and alignment to our values. When we do, we show up first and foremost for ourselves—and as a result, we’re more available for others.
This month, let’s look underneath chaos. How do you respond to it? And how might you transform potential drama into something meaningful? Because even in the mess, there are always gifts.
My personal approach?
I start by assessing: Is this mine? Do I want to be responsible for this?
Not all chaos is ours to carry.
If the answer is yes, I get practical. I step in—with clarity and personal boundaries, and I give myself permission to take breaks and step out as needed. Because managing chaos isn’t about martyrdom. It’s about presence.
And to stay clear-minded and emotionally steady, one thing I’ve learned is this: maintaining joy is essential.
From Drama to Stillness
Globally, locally, personally, the world may be feeling like a relentless swirl of chaos. It’s easy to make drama out of it. But what if we could meet it with curiosity instead of fear?
In both my book TWO FEET IN and a recent workshop, I share the idea that: chaos is the doorway to change. Especially when we consciously choose the chaos we want to be responsible for, and let go of what isn’t ours to carry.
When I need strength, I think of my ancestors, survivors of war, immigrants who rebuilt from scratch. If they could endure all of that, I can face this moment with grace and grit.
So, instead of asking “Why me?” from a place of self-pity, Why now? What’s in this for me to learn, grow, or reimagine?
Step 1: What Chaos Is Yours to Be Responsible For?
When chaos aligns with your values, it can shape meaning, bring peace of mind, and even lead to joy.
Here are a few examples:
- When my 98-year-old mom’s kitchen flooded, I flew across the country to manage the renovation. It wasn’t easy. I often called it an unusual form of torture. But through it, I reconnected with friends and family—and found ways to laugh. That chaos became a memory worth keeping.
- Many organizations are facing the whiplash of tariffs, rescinded grants, and increasing ideological restrictions on how they express their values or operate. These are challenging times, but they also prompt a deeper look at financial structure, purpose, and a renewed commitment to justice and equity.
- On a civic level, choose the chaos you most want to see disappear. While we can’t engage with everything, we can be intentional. Your anger gives you clues to what matters most to you. Direct your energy toward 1–3 issues that deeply align with your values. That’s where your voice and values align—and where your impact can be greatest.
Step 2: Transform Worry Into Responsible Action
Worry clouds clarity and paralyzes momentum.
It’s often a made-up or exaggerated scenario we project onto the future, yet we’re living in the present.
When worry arises, ask yourself:
Can I be responsible for this worry in present time (this week or month)?
- If yes: take the next action. Make the call. Do the research. Take the step.
- If no: let it go. Don’t let worry become another form of drama.
Example: After an electrical fire struck a home in our neighborhood, I noticed my neighbor the next day carrying six fire extinguishers into his house. Instead of just worrying about a similar fate, he acknowledged his concern and took immediate action.
Step 3: The Wheel of Chaos – A Visual Reflection
When chaos enters our lives and work, we’re able to navigate it with more grace if we or our organizations aren’t already overwhelmed by internal stress.
So, when everything feels like it’s spinning, it’s worth asking:
What part of this chaos might I be contributing to, by ignoring or avoiding something that truly belongs to me?
This is about personal and professional attention to detail, self-love, and respect.
It’s about tending to the foundation so that external waves don’t shake us quite so hard.
Use this reflection to explore where chaos may be showing up, either personally or professionally. Start inward, then expand outward.
Reflection Questions:
- Which areas of life or work feel chaotic?
- Where is chaos nudging you toward growth?
- Where is it draining your energy?
Personal + Organizational Prompts
Explore these questions through both lenses: your own life and the systems you’re part of or leading.
Office Space: Is your space clutter-free, well-equipped, and supportive?
Org lens: Are employees provided with the resources, tools, and environment they need to succeed?
Finances: Are your finances organized and sustainable? Do you have backup plans in place if things shift unexpectedly?
Org lens: Is your business resilient to policy or funding shifts, with well-thought-out contingency plans?
Health & Well-Being: Are you caring for yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?
Org lens: Are support systems in place for rest, recharge, and overall wellness?
Relationships: Are key relationships peaceful or strained?
Org lens: Is the team culture collaborative, or chaotic?
Professional Growth: Are you learning from the challenges you face?
Org lens: Are your people growing through development opportunities?
Fun & Recreation: Are you making time for joy?
Org lens: Does your workplace support play, connection, or celebration?
✎ Closing Reflection:
Here’s a truth I keep returning to:
When our inner house is in order, external chaos doesn’t have to knock us off course.
We can be morally outraged by the world around us, yet from a place of calm, we can choose how to respond, where to contribute, and what chaos to transform.
So, I leave you with this:
- Where is chaos showing up in your life or business that you’ve been ignoring?
- What’s being surfaced now that needs your attention?
Chaos may initially feel like a breakdown—but when you step into it, it can become the breakthrough.
Interested in navigating the chaos in your own life or leadership?
I offer a complimentary coaching conversation to help you explore what’s surfacing and where you want to go next.
Get the book TWO FEET IN, Finding Clarity, Purpose, and Passion in Your Life and Career.
Connect with me on my Instagram page or via LinkedIn and Email
