I’ve been down for most of the year. Not out…but down comparatively. You know what I mean. This is not one of those “glory days” we’ll look back on with unscarred fondness. This is a time of disruption. Change is thick, multifaceted, and often not of our making. Unsolicited change—ugh.
But what to do? It’s happening whether we like it or not.
For me, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching. I’ve shed tears, made pivots—personal and professional—and wrestled with uncertainty. The most important choice I’ve made, though, is to adapt.
Adaptation does not mean I like every twist, agree with every shift, or find comfort in it all. It means I grow. It means I look for opportunities to pursue meaning through the process. Because humans don’t thrive when our minds and bodies are locked in pure survival mode. Living in a constant “cortisol-intense” state squeezes out joy, creativity, and innovation.
What helps me move beyond survival is channeling my energy into work that aligns with my deepest sense of purpose. Much of my time this year has been devoted to a collaborative endeavor with Junior Achievement Africa and other NGOs to educate and empower under-resourced women and girls across Africa through the 10 Million African Girls Campaign. It’s meaning-filled and brings me into contact with people who share my mission in life—to serve. The act of creating, nurturing, and pouring into something bigger than myself is grounding. It keeps me moving forward.
And maybe the same is true for you. The world’s noise can be deafening—headlines pulling you one way, workplace demands pulling you another, personal responsibilities piling up without pause. In all of that, where is your anchor? What is the beacon that reminds you who you are and why you’re here?
It doesn’t have to be monumental. It might be a project that lights you up, a practice that steadies you, or a relationship that restores you. It might be the act of mentoring someone who needs your voice, creating space for your own well-being, or finally putting energy into an idea you’ve carried for too long.
The point is this: disruption will keep swirling, with or without your consent. But you have the power to choose how you meet it. You can stay stuck in survival mode—or you can lift your gaze, find the thing that gives you meaning, and climb to higher ground.
So I’ll ask you: What will be your beacon? Where will you place your energy so that, in the midst of chaos, you are still becoming?
Because here’s the truth: the future belongs to adaptive leaders.
The Attributes of Adaptation
Adaptive leaders:
Stay curious – They ask questions instead of rushing to judgment. Curiosity opens the door to possibility.
Embrace discomfort – They recognize that growth often feels awkward and choose to stay in it rather than retreat.
Anchor in purpose – They find meaning that steadies them, even when the world is spinning fast.
Balance flexibility with clarity – They shift course when necessary but stay clear on their guiding values.
Foster connection – They lean on community and collaboration, knowing resilience is rarely a solo act.
I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. None of us do. But I do know that when we choose to adapt—not merely endure—we reclaim the space for joy, creativity, and impact.
The future is already testing us. The real question is: how will you adapt?
Alongside you,
DeEtta