How do you navigate working and/or living in a complex environment? What do you do?
I thought about this today as I considered complex environments I've lived and worked in over my life--right now, the environments I live and work in--self-chosen environments are quite simple and I like that. I must say that I didn't enjoy the complex environments as much--why?
Complex environments are never dull, but it can be challenging to navigate all the events, personalities, conflicts, and emotions that complex environments bring. Looking back and looking ahead, I believe it is important to consider your role in a complex environment and find ways to simplify that environment to foster your best possible self and living/working.
First, consider your role--who are you in that environment, what do you hope to achieve, where are you headed? Then think about what's important with regard to your words and actions related to your role. For example, while my environment is not complex now, complexities arise now and then with my children. For the most part, my young adult children's life choices are not part of my role anymore--they're living their lives and making their choices. To understand that their choices are mainly not a part of my role brings definition and good order to my current role.
In complex environments that I've lived and worked in, problems arised when I didn't make time to clearly understand my role--when my definition and boundaries were muddy, unclear, and without definition, that's when I found myself upset and misdirected. So, in complex environments, figure out your place, and what that place means for your actions, words, and decisions.
Recently, my role in a friend situation became unclear. A friend made a choice that baffled me and upset me. Yet, as I consider my role with this friend, that decision is outside of my place--the decision doesn't personally affect me and while I don't understand why someone would make a decision like that, I have to steer clear of that topic--it's not my business, and it's a decision that doesn't clearly impact others in a negative way.
So, to thrive in a complex environment, find your place, know your role, and steer clear of the matters that don't belong to you if those matters are not hurtful and harmful to others. Onward.