Flux summary

In North America, the Haudenosaunee people, known more widely as the Iroquois, believe that animals, people, and even inanimate objects harbor an extraordinary invisible power called orenda. Orenda is the combined power of nature’s energies. It exists in rocks, rivers, birds, storms, as well as human beings. Orenda is also integral to the Iroquois vision quest in which each member of the tribe encounters their personal guardian spirit.

The Iroquois’ belief in orenda might seem far from typical. That’s because your social orientation fundamentally shapes how you perceive the world. Many spend their lives unaware of what they fail to see around them. So when it comes to facing changes, the second superpower is seeing what’s invisible.

In some cultures, change is expected. According to the best-selling author Amitav Ghosh, Indians have an expectation of change since their experience of the world has been one of constant upheaval.

Westerners, on the other hand, tend to believe in stability. When it comes to dealing with change, you can guess which of these two cultures is better equipped to deal with feeling lost. 

Think about a time when you were asked to participate in a team brainstorm only to be told that you should “stay in your lane.” This moment might seem innocuous. But it's actually a symptom of a wider crisis of trust occurring throughout the world.

The list of organizations frequently labeled as untrustworthy has grown exponentially in recent years, and includes groups like the government and politicians, both mainstream and social media, large corporations, educational systems – it goes on and on. Unfortunately, when we create systems built on mistrust, we impede curiosity and connection.

What does enough mean to you? Do you measure this differently for yourself than you do for other people? Consider if there’s anything you have more than enough of. What about less than enough of? The trick to knowing your enough is to know what just enough means for you.

Modern consumerism leads us to believe that we should want to have more. Whether it’s more salary, more followers on social media, or a more impressive title in a company, we’re collectively racing to acquire and accomplish. Unfortunately, even the most successful people tend to envy people they perceive as more successful. And the milestones will continue to shift. In other words, the pursuit of this kind of success is futile.

Throughout the twentieth century, career progression meant doing well in school, going to college, getting a job, excelling at your job, achieving promotions, and finally retiring. But in recent years, this linear perspective of labor has been on the brink of collapsing.

As a frequent keynote speaker on the future of work, the author has spoken about the rise of freelancers, the effects of automation, the development of remote work, and the future of education and public policy in light of these changes. In fact, since 2008, the vast majority of new US job creation hasn’t included full-time roles.

We’re living in what some have coined a “heads-down society.” A 2019 study found that teenagers spent more than 40 percent of their day on a tablet, mobile phone, or TV screen. E-commerce, text recognition, and virtual assistant technology are now part of our daily lives. Humans are increasingly spending time with technology and less time with each other.

While technology enables us to connect faster than ever before, it’s paradoxically leaving us disconnected from one another. Studies have shown that increasing screen time causes higher levels of adult depression. It’s clear that technology isn’t going anywhere. So if we want to navigate the world in flux, we need to reset our relationship with technology and tap into what makes us fully human.

Like many people today, you might have been left feeling that you have a future without dreams. You might have lost a job that you adored. Or the project that was set to launch your career may have collapsed. Perhaps your financial situation has made it unclear whether supporting your child’s dream to go to college is worth the cost.

The final flux superpower is letting go of the future. This prepares you to keep your dreams alive when change flips your world upside down.