Instilling Antifragility 

“It’s not what happens to you but how you react that matters.” 

If you’re someone who finds it difficult to make time for others and oneself, or get drained/caught up easily in this era of realignment, or tend to suffer from stress and anxiety, consciously or subconsciously, then this is just for you! 

For all the avid readers familiar with ‘IKIGAI’ and its concepts, must also be aware of what this title stands for. However, for the rest of you let us introduce you to what ‘Instilling Antifragility’ means. In simple words, it’s a major determinant of problem solving. It can shape one’s life and help them become a better version of themselves.

 
Etymologically speaking, fragile refers to anything or any person which can be easily weakened when harmed. For most of us, the opposite word for fragile would be ‘resilience’, which technically translates to the person’s ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations. But Nassim Taleb, the author of “Things that Gain from Disorder”, states that the word describing a thing which makes us strong when we are harmed by it – doesn’t exist! Thus, he coined the term ‘Anti Fragile’ – a person’s ability to come out stronger and better post the catastrophe. Some things get strengthened when they are put to chaos, disorganization or uncertainty. To explain this paradigm, one can talk about the mythological creature Hydra – when one of its heads is cut off, two heads come out instead. The resilient stays unvaried, while the antifragile surpasses the stumbling blocks to grow fitter and stronger. 
 
Now, how can one instill this concept in their daily life? First and foremost, one needs to add variations in their life that may help not restrict themselves to their comfort zones. As the saying goes, all eggs should not be kept in one basket. To begin with, one should try focusing on channelizing the inner energy and perceiving life as a whole. For example, to approach an evolved version of yourself, try pushing away the things that hold you captive, so that your life doesn’t revolve around anything that doesn’t add value to it. Secondly, smaller risks which may provide greater rewards without exposing one to dangerous situations can be targeted as well. Taking up calculated risks aids an individual’s development by building their confidence and life-saving skills. This venture aims at breaking the set pattern and provides exposure to uncertainty. It can be as simple as standing up to an offensive joke, to being vulnerable in-front of your parents. Lastly, try to break free from situations and things that make you vulnerable or fragile. For instance, to improve the delayed deadlines or procrastinated tasks, level up your time management skills and try to maintain focus on one thing at a time with prioritization. 
 
Thus, dear readers, if you have a clear sense of your ikigai (reason for being) instead of focusing on what has been lost, center your senses on what you’ve learnt from the process. Doing this, one can experience that the process itself is full of growth and makes the person a stronger individual. The setbacks shall enrich you with new perspectives, upgrade your freedom, make you consistent, while also helping you to realise your goal’s worth. The Japanese theory of Wabi Sabi – ‘that life is full of imperfections’, is one that can pave the path to being okay with oneself to further come out stronger and fight one’s own battles.  
And always remember, failure is nothing but a redirection for the better!