Hi friends,

Look out, Permacrisis (word of 2022), there's a new, vaguely threatening p-word on the scene: Polycrisis.

According to the World Economic Forum we are entering a "polycrisis decade" that will mark a very pointed departure from the period of relative peace, stability, and global economic integration we've all been enjoying for the last 20 years.

This message has been echoed by several world leaders over the past few months, including French President Macron who declared that "France was at the end of its age of abundance," back in August of 2022.

You know the saying, Fuck Around and Find Out (FAFO for short)?

Well, over the past 20 years we've been fucking around with global markets, tech oligarchies, predictive AI, ignoring climate science, wage stagnation, growing inequalities, reliance on unsustainable cheap energy, etc.

And now we're about to enter the age of FINDING OUT.

Cool, cool, cool.

According to the not-at-all terrifyingly named, Cascade Institute:

For example the war on Ukraine is a polycrisis because of the multitude of Global Systems Affected.

Last November, Turkish Economist Nouriel Roubini wrote a long-read detailing what he calls "The Age of Mega Threats" basically outlining the upcoming global Polycrises in great detail.

I'm pretty sure I experienced the five stages of grief after reading that piece of psychological torture, but then I ended up feeling this deep sense of calm.

Ok, so we're in a period of Polycrisis.

Does it actually matter?

Here are the top threats as identified by the WEF's 2023 Global Risks Report:

How many of these threats can any of us (regular people) control?

I can't control the cost of living crisis, extreme weather events, widespread cybersecurity risks, the erosion of social cohesion, or the lack of natural resources.

Last I checked, mitigating Geo-economic Confrontations was NOT a part of my LinkedIn skills. (Though if one of you wants to endorse me for that, it would be awesome, thanks.)

I can't control Xi Jingping's consolidation of power in China. I can't control whether or not Putin or Kim Jong-Un are going to wake up one day and nuke us all.

Plus, the standard response to dealing with these Polycrises seems to be, "it's really complex, so we're not sure."

I don't think these alarmist media narratives are adding any value to my daily life. Roubini should just send his articles and policy recommendations direct to world leaders and leave all of us out it. Unless there is something specific and actionable that I can do, I DON'T CARE.

There is a difference between being informed about how the world is changing, and letting this information throw you into a spiral of despair.

Instead, let's shift our attention to the things we can control.

5 Ways to Focus on your Zone of Control

The zone of control is a concept recognized by Buddhists, Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, and Stoics alike that says people should expend energy on the things they can impact.

1. ATTENTION - What you focus on expands. There are endless distractions vying for your attention. Start by identifying what is important to you and actively decide what you will pay attention to. Choose to pay attention to high quality information, nourishing relationships, and activities that bring you joy.

2. ENERGY: How are you managing this limited resource? Everything we engage with either fills up our tank or drains it. We only have a set amount each day. Are you arguing with Internet strangers? In friendships that don't serve you? Doom scrolling? All those activities use up precious energy. Be intentional with what replenishes you and cut out anything (or anyone) that is draining your peace.

3. TIME: If you don't make time, you'll never find time. Take control of your calendar. Carve out blocks for the things that are important to you and stick to it. Schedule self-care time, time with friends, time to relax, and time to move your body.

4. THOUGHTS: Choose your words, choose your life. Pay close attention to how you talk to your self. Are you kind? Judgemental? Critical? How do you talk about the world? Your words inform your beliefs which informs your reality can create self-limiting beliefs.

5. FEELINGS- Discomfort is your ally. Negative and uncomfortable emotions can be a powerful way to reveal unexpressed wants or needs. Knowing how to sit with a difficult emotion without judgement is a great way to get clarity about different areas of your life. Once you understand that emotions move through you (and that you aren't your emotions) you can take control and stay grounded.

As for the rest of it? Let it all go.

I like to remind myself that there are lots of things I can do. I can volunteer to help with causes I care about. I can write my elected representative and get involved in my community. I can donate to organizations that are working to solve these challenges. I can learn new skills. I can keep growing my own food.

As the lovely Brienne Wiest wrote:

You've got this. Tomorrow is never promised, so let's make the most of today.

If you're like me and you love learning new skills, you'll love my Skillshare courses. You can learn how create Digital Norms for Team, How to use Adaptive Planning, and How to Prepare For and Give Compelling Presentations. ​