The Positive Side of Chaos

By C. Schall Gontijo

​Chaos can be defined as complete disorder and confusion. That simple definition can explain why this concept is so negatively seen in our modern world, in which order and productivity are associated with the idea of a perfect reality. However, it is important that we acknowledge that there is a good side to experiencing chaos, despite being often seen as something to be avoided: it can lead to creativity and innovation. Chaos can provide the spark needed to trigger inspiration and therefore, embracing it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs across multiple areas of one's life.

Experiencing unpredictable events can be essential elements in creative processes. One interesting example is Jackson Pollocks' abstract expressionism. He started his work by simply splattering paint on a canvas without any predetermined plan. However, his idea started revolutionizing the world of art, embracing chaos and spontaneity, whilst rejecting traditional forms and structures. His creativity was born from disorder. Instead of using carefully premeditated brushstrokes, he prioritized his freedom of expression, allowing intuition and emotion to take the lead. This shows how creativity can be freed if strict boundaries of an art form are let loose.

Expanding on that idea, chaos can inspire flexible, divergent thinking that breaks traditional thought patterns. It disrupts our routines and forces our brains to explore new and unconventional ideas. This process allows for free flow of thoughts; it helps people to better adapt to and embrace uncertainty, whilst pushing our minds beyond familiar boundaries. For example, in Kathleen Vohs' experiment in 2013, participants were placed in either a clustered or a tidy room. They were given tasks to measure creativity, like coming up with alternative uses for a ping-pong. The participants in the messy room generated significantly more creative and innovative ideas. Vohs' conclusion was that while orderliness promotes conventional thinking, disorder encourages creativity.

On the other hand, creativity can be killed by an overly-structured routine. It leads to rigid thinking and stifles innovation. For example, school environments, in which most students feel bored and trapped, can discourage risk-taking and the exploration of unconventional ideas. Finally, we can conclude that a balance between order and chaos is optimal for productivity, as well as creativity. This way, we have the opportunity to come up with original ideas, whilst still having enough order to gather our thoughts into an understandable structure. 

Chaos can be perceived as a powerful driver of innovation, instead of a hindrance. Therefore, if we allow ourselves to work at our own times, if we encourage the acceptance of occasional failure, and if we welcome unpredictability, we can definitely lead a much more creative life. Let us lean into the messiness of life as a path to breakthrough.