"Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee
Thanks to the antagonism-generating mechanisms of social media, I recently came across a video of a man ranting about the abject evils of pronoun plenitude in the workplace, colorful hair dye, and gender ambiguity.
I got the feeling from his voice and body language that he intended to project a sense of impassioned righteousness, maybe even prophetic fury.
What I observed was fear. Anguished, desperate, whimpering fear.
Clearly, this man (who appeared to be in his late 40s) is aware that there is a new world out there, and it is strange to him. A world with people who have preferences regarding which pronouns they prefer for themselves. A world with people who occasionally dye their hair bright pink. A world with people who identify outside of a strict gender binary.
For people who perceive their world as fixed, static, and forever familiar, these blurred lines must be supremely foundation-shaking. But younger people aren't shook by this at all. They know that human existence is creative, dynamic, and always on the move. They might even know that some of their own most cherished practices may soon be seen as unnecessary or even flat-out wrong. From their carefully chosen vocabulary choices to their hair color decisions to their ideas around identity, young folks are demonstrating that things once thought to be clearly defined…may not be, or perhaps needn’t be.
I believe Gen-Z’s predilections — even the ostensibly superficial ones — will ultimately help us evolve into human beings who are capable of deftly managing and adapting to the paradigm (and behavioral) shifts in the coming years. The first few years of the 2020s will eventually be seen as lightweight fluff compared to all of the biological, philosophical, and technological changes coming our way. If we take a cue from this youngest generation about fluidity, we will be that much more prepared for those changes when they come.
Call it radical fluidity: an awareness of constant change as an existential fact, and the ability to adapt at a moment’s notice. Also — the willingness and humility to learn from those younger than you.
Try flowing with radical fluidity this weekend; see how it feels. I’d love to hear from you about any breakthroughs!
