CHAOS v/s CREATIVITY

"You don't have to be crazy in the airlines, but it helps", said Eddie
Rickenbacker, a hero Pilot of World War 1 and former President of
Eastern Airlines. Sound wacky? Not really for in today's chaotic world
not just in airlines alone but in all fields this statement however
eccentric it may sound holds good is the unanimous opinion.

In today's fast, hi-tech world the frantic and turbulent race against
time stands out in stark contrast to the gracious, caring and
sensitive approach of yesterday. The earth today whirls dizzyingly
unlike earlier when there was a sense of time and place and it rotated
at a snug and cozy pace.

Is man thus losing his direction in keeping pace with this high-speed
and furious world? Is this drift natural or is he being displaced and
defeated? Not exactly. Viewing this awesome trend as a process of
evolution it is best to move along with the crowd than swim against
the tide, fight a losing battle and drown. Because there is more than
one thing to be said in favour of this mad, frenzied and wild universe
with all its commotion and confusion. For looking deeper it has been
found that chaos can be creative.

"You need chaos in your life to give birth to a dancing star",
prophesied Nietzsche the philosopher. For many new ideas, exciting
discoveries and strategies are born when our minds are taxed.
Initiative and ingenuity result from brainstorming sessions. It is
said that chaos and order are just opposites but not enemies. Many
great ideas and inspirations thus arise from anguish. Helen Keller
often reflected whether she could have done so much for humanity if
she was not challenged by her multiple disabilities. For it is amidst
crises and disorder we search for answers to get out of the rut we
seem trapped.

A life eternally rosy and comfy would be deprived of quality and
brilliance, due to lack of chances to strive for excellence. Our best
moments often occur during tumult, clamour and discomfort. Lack of
challenges and trials in our lives would be a slow death of our
talent, potential, abilities etc. Our skills would never be put on
test. "It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has
produced the stunning and unexpected findings of science", announced
Carl Sagan the astronomer.

Charles Darwin was in a tormented predicament when his dominating
father enrolled him for medicine, which he hated. The sight of blood
unnerved him and he often fainted for surgery classes. It was during
such moments of distress he discovered his true vocation as naturalist
and not a doctor. Problems thus should not be viewed as obstacles but
opportunities to discover ourselves. They are the key to creativity.
The overlooked fact about uncertainties and trials is that if handled
deftly instead of making our lives miserable they foster our
imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness.

Archimedes and many other discovers of ancient and modern times
admitted that it was a creative stress pounding in them that led to
path-breaking inventions. Galileo deified the outdated views of his
age, as he was disturbed and restless at the way the world thought.
Fluctuations, pandemonium and tension make us dissect ourselves,
reflect upon life and do some deep soul searching. In these moments of
retrospections lies the solution to many dilemmas

So accept chaos into your life. Never dread or run away from it.
Consider it as a positive phenomenon. Face trying situations with a
calm demeanor. Never worry. For worrying about problems does more harm
than the actual problem. Overcome turbulence and havoc by meditating
and deliberating upon them with restraint and view them as
opportunities to prove your mettle. Chaos and crises are valuable
lessons in life.

For our universe itself it is said evolved from the chaos of an
explosion that led to the Big Bang theory.