Navigating a chaotic world with resilience

Spirituality can enhance resilience by promoting a growth mindset. We learn that everything that happens is an opportunity for growth and learning.

- KEN O'DONNELL

Recently I was asked to do a workshop on meditation for a business school in London. In a conversation with the director, he asked me if I could help people come to grips with the so-called BANI world.

In recent years, the world has been described using various frameworks, one of which is BANI—an acronym that stands for Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible.

This framework captures the essence of our current global challenge. In response to these conditions, many individuals and communities are turning to spirituality as a source of strength and guidance.

What could be the spiritual responses to BANI and how can they help us navigate these turbulent times?

Before delving into this, we need to understand what BANI represents:

1. Brittle: Systems and structures that appear strong but can easily break under pressure. We see this immediately in the catastrophes brought about by climate change.

2. Anxious: A pervasive sense of worry and fear about the future for all age groups. Just look at the percentage of the population that suffered from anxiety due to COVID.