Feature: Ray of Sunshine – Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing World

By Timothy A. Edward

In a rapidly evolving world, we find ourselves at the crossroads of unprecedented technological advancements and significant socio-economic challenges. On one hand, we witness remarkable progress in fields like medical science and technology, with innovations such as driverless cars and groundbreaking vaccines. On the other hand, we face turmoil and uncertainty due to wars, chaotic weather patterns, climate change, and economic instability. This duality underscores the importance of staying relevant and continuously improving to navigate these defining moments in history.

Continuous Improvement

One way to stay relevant is by embracing a growth mindset, as proposed by Carol Dweck. This involves believing that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. By continuously learning and adapting, we can stay relevant in our fields. It is simple as what we plant, we will also harvest.

According to Deci and Ryan, Self-Determination Theory emphasises the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. By setting aside daily time to learn and connecting with peers through platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, we fulfill these psychological needs, enhancing our motivation and engagement.

Global Citizenship

A lot of new knowledge and cutting-edge wisdom usually gets shared by different associations specialising in different fields. By joining local and international associations, we can learn from experts and peers, expanding our knowledge and network. The Social Identity Theory suggests that our sense of who we are is based on our group membership. By becoming active members of professional associations, we strengthen our professional identity and increase our sense of belonging.

Moments of Great Vision

If we keep grappling faithfully in our particular area of expertise, then surely, we will have our moments of great vision for the future. This process is like meditation. We are all familiar with the art of meditation as promoted by different religions. In the same manner, we can take a particular business, legal, political or economic issue that is pressing on us and keep meditating or brooding over it, until a light dawns at the end of the tunnel.

The Flow Theory describes a state of complete immersion and focus on an activity. By dedicating time to deeply engaging with our work, we can achieve flow, leading to moments of great vision and creativity.

Further, the Cognitive Dissonance Theory explains how we strive for internal consistency. By meditating on pressing issues and experimenting with solutions, we reduce the discomfort caused by conflicting ideas, leading to innovative breakthroughs.

In Search of New Modules

We can see the world is in constant search for new political, medical, legal and business modules because the world as we know has changed so much that the old systems, theories and economic concepts are not working very effectively. For example, many laws are quite archaic, and they are not productive in implementing equity and justice. For example, the copyright law in the music industry is going through an amazing number of changes the world over, to keep it more relevant given the technological advancements in the music industry. 

In the same way, countries are trying out different governance systems and modules because democracy, socialism and everything in between seems to be failing, given the socio-political and economic changes that are happening in this era.

The secret is, as the world changes, we too must adapt by exploring new political, medical, legal, and business models that better suit our current realities. Everett Rogers’ Innovation Diffusion Theory explains how new ideas and technologies spread.

Then, Systems Theory emphasises the inter-connectedness of various components within a system. Our societies seem to be so fragile, that when we pull one string, the entire system seems to be collapsing, very much like the domino effect. By understanding and addressing the complexities of modern challenges, we can develop more effective and relevant solutions.

The writer of this article, invites the readers to participate voluntarily in a basic research questionnaire under the title, In Search of a New Constitution, which is purely for educational purposes, the results of which will be presented at a legal conference in Colombo in December.      

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Whatever, maybe the outcome of this research, one thing is clear. In this era of rapid change, staying relevant requires continuous learning, networking, and adapting. By embracing psychological concepts and theories discussed above, we can navigate the complexities of our evolving world. Let us keep our eyes and ears open, learn from global advancements, and lead cautious yet innovative lives in this era of war, peace and ceasefire that is shaping the future of our world.