040 - The Coach Up: Allostasis vs. Homeostasis, and the Science of Handling Change
May 20, 2024
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Exploring the shift from traditional stability to adaptability with allostasis, emphasizing the need for flexibility in handling life's changes. Learn about the benefits of embracing change, navigating chaos with rituals, and finding stability through resilience and personal growth. Discover the importance of adaptation and evolution for psychological well-being.
Allostasis promotes stability in new states after change, unlike homeostasis that emphasizes returning to previous states.
Resilience involves being rugged yet flexible, balancing core values with adaptability to navigate life's challenges effectively.
Deep dives
Navigating Change Through Homeostasis and Allostasis
Change is a constant in life, with the average adult experiencing 36 major life changes. Homeostasis, the cycle of stability followed by instability and back to stability, is how most changes are perceived. However, the concept of allostasis suggests moving from instability to a new stability, capturing the essence of achieving stability in a new state after change. This shift challenges the traditional notion of returning to previous states, emphasizing the importance of adapting and growing through change.
Embracing Change and Flexible Stability
Accepting change and understanding that it is always occurring is crucial in navigating life's challenges. By embracing impermanence, individuals can shift their mindset towards being stable through change by allowing themselves to adapt to new circumstances. Developing rituals and routines can provide a sense of stability, especially during times of chaos, offering a semblance of control and progress amidst disruption.
Rugged Flexibility in Adapting to Change
The key to resilience lies in being rugged yet flexible, maintaining core values while adapting practices to suit changing circumstances. Using the example of tennis legend Roger Federer, who adapted his game to stay competitive as he aged, illustrates the importance of balancing stability with adaptability. By remaining steadfast in core values while being open to change, individuals can navigate life's challenges with strength and adaptiveness, embracing the evolution of self through each cycle of disorder and reorder.
Whether we like it or not, change is inevitable. In his book Master of Change, Brad cites research that the average human will undergo 36 major life changes in their time alive. Which means it's vital that we have the right tools to navigate disruption. Today, Brad explains how our understanding of and reliance on the concept of "homeostasis" has contributed to our inflexibility, and how a newer concept—allostasis—allows for a more adaptable version of stability.
Want to learn more tools for handling life's many changes? Grab a copy of Brad's book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing—Including You.
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