The Adaptable Life
Issue #184
Coffee in hand, I drove toward the convention centre where hundreds of Rotary members waited for my keynote address. Then it happened. A pothole, a jolt, and hot coffee across my white shirt and printed speech.
Before this incident, such mishaps would have ruined my day. I would have pulled over, called the organisers to delay, and spent precious time hunting for a replacement shirt.
But that morning, something shifted. I grabbed napkins from the glove compartment, dabbed what I could, and continued driving. I walked onto that stage with coffee stains and all, opened with a story about my morning ‘baptism,’ and delivered the most impactful speech of my career.
The Rotary president later told me it was my authenticity that inspired the members that day.
The external world doesn't care about you as much as you'd like them to. Your boss can fire you. Your partner might leave you. Your kids, friends, and family can get sick and die just as you can. This unpredictability and lack of control can set you free if you change how you view it.
This doesn't mean you should give up. It means you should lean into living. It means you should accept the obstacles and enjoy climbing around them.
‘‘The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions,’’ Alfred Adler once said. When we stop fighting against the current of change and instead learn to swim with it, we discover strength we never knew we had.
If you had a bad day today, return to riding the happy horse tomorrow. If you feel tired today, do something different to change your mindset tomorrow. It's irrational to think your life, your daily thoughts, and the people you care about won't change. Some for the better, some for the worse.
But this internal and external conflict is needed to see the hidden parts of yourself you have yet to witness. What part of you emerges during difficulty that remains hidden during ease? How have your past challenges revealed your strengths? What would you attempt if you knew unexpected changes would become your greatest opportunities?
So be adaptable and flexible, and stop expecting. Our entire homo sapiens species has existed and thrived because of our ability to evolve and work together to adapt to any crisis, war, event, or calamity.
People who see stress as fuel rather than fire perform better when the heat is on. They tackle pressure with confidence and enjoy more satisfaction in their lives. It's not about avoiding stress. It's about reframing it as the energy that powers your growth.
Charles Darwin recognised this when he said, ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.’
When life throws me curveballs, I rely on what I call the 24-Hour Rule. After a disruption hits my plans, I give myself a full day to process before making any major decisions. This cooling period has saved me from countless reactive choices I would have regretted. Once my flight was cancelled before an important meeting, this pause allowed me to arrange an even more productive virtual session that eliminated travel time entirely.
I've also embraced the ‘What If This Is Perfect’ mindset. During a home construction disaster that became unexpected structural issues, I fought against my initial panic by asking what opportunities this revelation might create. The redesign that followed created a more open living space I now treasure. This simple question transforms my initial resistance into curiosity and helps me spot hidden gifts within apparent setbacks.
My daily life includes what I think of as micro-adventures in adaptation. Sometimes it's taking an unfamiliar route home and discovering a charming neighbourhood park. Other times it's ordering the dish I can't pronounce at a restaurant or striking up conversation with someone outside my usual social circle. These small flexibility practices strengthen my resilience for bigger challenges, just as daily stretches prepare an athlete for competitive performance.
One of my mentees lost her 22-year corporate job during budget cuts. Instead of panic, she took three months to explore interests she'd back-burnered for years. Today, her home bakery business supports her family and brings her joy she never found in her corporate role.
‘The layoff wasn't my ending, it was my beginning,’ she says.
Life disrupts plans. This isn't pessimism. It's certainty. The question isn't if upheaval will come, but what you'll create from it. The same shock that breaks comfort builds opportunity. Will you resist the inevitable or transform with it?
Your next reinvention waits on the other side of whatever stands in your way right now.
Incase you missed the previous issue on Two Days in Copenhagen, here are the highlights:
Two Days in Copenhagen
We only had two days in Copenhagen. May 1st and 2nd. A short stopover before heading to Iceland. We weren’t expecting much. Just a few walks, maybe a pastry, a photo or two.
The Power of Slow Travel: Walking nearly 50 km over two days revealed the city’s layers and rhythms in ways no itinerary or quick tour could, proving that the best way to experience a place is on foot, at its natural pace.
Everyday Moments Matter Most: Rather than grand sights, it was small, quiet moments like the smell of cardamom buns, jazz near the Round Tower, or a simple act of kindness that left the deepest impression.
Cities Have Seasons of Mood: Day One’s energy was vibrant and collective, with the whole city basking in spring; Day Two offered a contrasting stillness, showing how a place’s character can shift subtly from one day to the next.
History and Modern Life Coexist Seamlessly: Copenhagen’s charm lies in its blend of the old and new - centuries-old landmarks, modern-day TikToks, and chess games in royal gardens, demonstrating how history remains part of daily life, not a distant spectacle.
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