Anaïs Nin once said, “In chaos, there is fertility”. This
statement is extremely profound and encompassing, it is full of intellectual
worth and value. However, for one to fully grasp its meaning and significance, they
have to understand the concepts of fertility and chaos. This is important
because, an understanding of fertility and chaos as individual concepts will subsequently
lead to the discovery of the beauty in the juxtaposition of Nin’s assertion.
According
to the Oxford dictionary, the word ‘chaos’ can be defined as a state of
complete disorder and confusion. Chaos is definitely not a foreign concept
because we all deal with it on a day-to-day basis. Chaos is probably the only
thing concept that is consistent and constant throughout our existence as
humans. A Greek philosopher called Heraclitus once said, “Change is the only
constant in life”. As much this is extremely accurate, it also validates my
penultimate statement because with change comes chaos.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines the word ‘fertility’ as the ability to produce many ideas. Most people
who have gained success and maintained it, possess a fertile mind and a fertile
imagination. Fertility broadens horizons and expands perspectives and thought
processes. People with fertile minds are trailblazers and they are never afraid
to fail because they have plans B to Z to fall back on.
Fertility is the endpoint, the
desired result, the big picture, but in order to get there it is important for
one to pass through a stage of chaos. There are so many reasons why chaos is
important, for one, passing through a time of obstacles and uncertainty helps
increase value of the endpoint. The value that one attaches to their desired
result will determine their ability to maintain it when they achieve it. Also,
when people pass through chaotic times, it forces them to realize that they are
a lot stronger than they thought. There is a popular saying that “one never
knows how strong they are, until that is the only option”.
Every situation in life leads to
a positive outcome and therefore a stage of complete and utter chaos is
inevitable. A positive outcome is not necessarily the outcome one desired to
begin with, it could be the outcome one had tried to avoid. An outcome that is
perceived to be negative really isn’t, it is a learning experience. Learning
how not to do something is just as important as learning how to do something.
Gold is arguably the most precious metal in the world but it is no way excluded
from chaos.
Childbirth is the most beautiful
process in human existence but it definitely does not start out that way. First
of all, I think it is paramount to establish that like life, every experience
is different. Never use another person’s map for your own journey. However,
there are few things that cut across all boards. For example, the bouts of
seemingly unending and excruciating pain the mother experiences. Childbirth is
a test of the mother’s strength as a woman and the strength of the foundation
of the relationship she has with her partner.
Like childbirth, life throws at us many different situations; some of
which are best dealt with alone, and others that require a solid support system
and team. There is wisdom in knowing the difference.
Another process that comes with a
lot of chaos is brainstorming. Brainstorming is a group problem-solving
technique that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members
of the group. It is important because it makes the work easier and more
effective in the long run. After the brainstorming session, after all the
temper tantrums and meltdowns, everyone kind of finds their bearing and
naturally slips into their specialized roles.
Brainstorming is a great way for one to discover their natural strengths
and an opportunity to work on their weaknesses in a semi-judgemental
atmosphere. It teaches skills that will be beneficial for life, skills such as patience,
quick analytical thinking, how to work effectively in a team and alone and
empathy.
There are many different stages
in one’s academic career and for the most part, it is extremely chaotic. The
most chaotic, however has to be the university application process. There are
so many decisions to be made and there are so many people involved. For
starters, deciding on a major is a daunting task and it has to be done right,
because it will determine what happens in the future. There are so many options
and usually your head and your heart are going in opposite directions, which
makes it significantly more difficult to go through. It is worth it though, because there are
numerous benefits. I mean everyone wants to be rich, but what gives one the ability
to stand out and be different and think outside the box is everything else your
chosen path adds to you. In the end, if money is the only motivation, it is
less likely that one will be willing to go through the chaotic stage, which makes
it is less likely that one will reach the desired finish line.
FAMILY. Both the ones God chose
and more importantly in this case, the ones you choose, also known as friends.
I say friends are more important than biological family because one is less
obliged to go through the chaotic part. For the members of most biological
families, especially when a child is going through puberty, it is very tense.
This is because teenagers fail to agree with their parents and a strain is
often put on the relationship. I think the main source of tension is the fact
that parents give advice based on their own experiences and their teenagers are
frustrated because they are walking hormones and they think their experiences
are totally different from their parents’, so its chaos. This may sound absurd
but it is important for both parent and child to go through this phase, because
this is when they both learn to compromise. The parents realize that their
child is growing up and their child realizes they do really need their parents advice
and support to survive.
For friends, it is important to
decipher early in the friendship whether both people are willing to deal with
the other’s excesses. Friendship requires a mutual appreciation and respect for
one another but it takes most people a lot longer than it should, to figure
that out. A person’s closest friends are the ones that they don’t feel like
they have to be perfect for, the ones that one doesn’t hide their chaos from.
Real friends help each other deal with their chaos and help each other grow and
develop as people. Real friends are perfectly content in each other’s chaos.
Most conversations I have with my closest friends are extremely heated but I
always learn something. I either gain a new perspective on a topic or learn
something new about the personality of my friend and that goes on to improve
our communication and our relationship in the future. If after the chaos of a
heated argument, I have gained nothing, it is an indication that the person is more
of an acquaintance than a friend.
Chaos is a very important aspect
of life because through it, we get to experience the richness and complexity of
our existence, and there is always an opportunity for growth and evolution. If
that is not beautiful, I don’t know what is. I think the message behind Anaïs
Nin’s quote is panoramic and encompassing because it applies to life as a whole. There is also something very comforting about it, because it reminds us that when we get to those difficult moments and when we face certain challenges in life
and the endpoint is difficult to see, in the midst of the chaos, we can be
reminded that there is purpose and value and meaning in what seems to be nothing
at all.
