Vijay’s Perspective: Guiding Chaos

Vijay often reflected on the nature of chaos, both in the Universe and in human organisations. To him, chaos wasn’t an enemy to be defeated, but a force to be understood and guided. He believed that just as self-organisation represents success in natural phenomena, the same principles could apply to human systems. The key lay not in controlling chaos, but in embracing its unpredictability and finding harmony within it.

“Why,” Vijay wondered, “are we so determined to control uncertainty?” The answer, he believed, lay in human emotion. People crave security. They feel stable when they can predict outcomes and exert control over situations. The unknown, by contrast, brings discomfort, insecurity, and even fear. This need for control extends to organisations as well. When uncertainty arises, it disrupts the climate, creates tension, and leaves individuals feeling powerless. In society, Vijay observed, control equates to power, and powerlessness is often equated with failure or unworthiness.

Vijay found it unfortunate that this mindset of resisting uncertainty had been so deeply ingrained in human thinking. He had read the works of social scientists who explained why people resist change, and he empathised with their conclusions. But he couldn’t help feeling that society had been missing something vital: the profound creativity and innovation that arise on the boundaries of chaos.

“It’s in chaos,” Vijay often said, “that the most beautiful things are born. When there’s no control, only values—our self-governing parameters—can guide us through.”

Turbulence: A Natural Rule

To Vijay, turbulence wasn’t an exception in life; it was the rule. He often drew parallels between the turbulent environments in nature and the chaotic shifts in organisations. Just as a river carves new paths through unpredictable currents, human systems evolve through their own periods of disorder. Vijay believed the best way to navigate such turbulence wasn’t by trying to impose rigid control but by flowing with the chaos, understanding its rhythms, and finding ways to guide it naturally.

“Control is an illusion,” Vijay would say. “You can’t stop the river’s current, but you can build channels to guide its flow.”

Instead of fearing chaos, Vijay advocated for organisations—and individuals—to embrace its unpredictability. He believed that chaos couldn’t and shouldn’t be controlled, but it could be guided by behaviour parameters. These parameters, he argued, were better thought of as values.

Guiding Chaos Through Values

Vijay saw values as the invisible framework that allowed chaos to self-organise. While rules and rigid controls often stifled creativity, values provided the flexibility needed to thrive in turbulent environments.

“Think of values as the wind guiding a kite,” Vijay explained. “The kite isn’t tied to one direction; it dances with the wind. Yet, it doesn’t lose its purpose or direction. The string, or the value, keeps it anchored, even in unpredictable conditions.”

He believed organisations could thrive in chaotic environments by adopting this approach. Instead of rigid hierarchies and overbearing control, they needed to trust their values—principles like trust, adaptability, respect, and innovation. These values could guide their actions without suffocating their ability to adapt and create.

Flowing with Chaos

For Vijay, the lesson was clear: chaos is not the problem. The problem lies in humanity’s obsession with controlling it. He believed the true path to success, whether for individuals or organisations, was not resistance but understanding.

“We must learn to live like rivers,” Vijay would say. “Don’t fight the current. Understand it, follow its natural flow, and let your values guide you to where you need to go.”

To him, chaos was not just a challenge—it was an opportunity. It was on the boundaries of uncertainty that the most creative and innovative ideas emerged. Vijay had seen this in his own life, whether in his teaching, his art, or his reflections on the world. He trusted the turbulence, not because he could control it, but because he could guide himself through it, anchored by values that held him steady even in the most unpredictable of storms.

Vijay’s message was simple yet profound: chaos cannot be controlled, but it can be embraced. And when guided by values, it becomes not an enemy, but a partner in creation and growth.