Harnessing Chaos: Turning Discomfort Into a Catalyst for Growth

In leadership, few traits are more valuable than a growth mindset—the belief that skills, abilities, and even emotional resilience can be developed through effort and experience. But adopting this mindset is often easier in theory than in practice, especially when chaos hits.

In a recent 1:1 coaching session with a world-class law firm leader and founder, we explored how unexpected disruption can feel overwhelming—and how shifting both mindset and energy can turn those moments into springboards for growth.

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Why Chaos Feels Threatening

My client was facing a volatile situation that impacted their financial stability and tested their leadership identity. The lack of clear “rules of the game” had created a fog of uncertainty, triggering what Energy Leadership™ refers to as an Energetic Stress Reaction—a natural but draining response in which adrenaline and cortisol dominate.

From an Energy Leadership™ perspective, this reaction often shows up in the lower catabolic energy levels:

• Level 1 (victim energy): “This happened to me.”

• Level 2 (conflict energy): “I need to fight my way out.”

While these states are normal under pressure, they can also keep us stuck or from seeing any potential solution other than the obvious, which may not serve us in the long-term. The goal isn’t to pretend chaos is pleasant—it’s to move up the energy spectrum toward higher levels that emphasize ownership, creativity, and opportunity.

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The Growth Mindset Shift

As we talked, I guided my client to shift from a stress-filled frame and shift his view of the situation to a growth mindset lens. Instead of seeing chaos as something to avoid, my client began to see it as a catalyst—a challenging but necessary condition for learning, problem-solving, and innovation.

We identified that some of his most meaningful achievements had begun in similarly messy conditions. The difference wasn’t whether chaos was present—it was whether he approached it with fear and resistance, or with curiosity and intention.

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The Power of Ownership

One of the most pivotal shifts came when we moved from victimhood to ownership.

The facts hadn’t changed, but the story had. Saying, “This happened to me” kept my client in reactive energy. Reframing to, “This is the result of choices I’ve made, and I own it” elevated him to Level 3 and above—where challenges are addressed with responsibility, focus, and purposeful action.

Ownership didn’t erase the discomfort, but it shortened the time spent in draining, catabolic energy and opened the door to productive forward movement.

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Binding the Chaos

Not all chaos is created equal. Some situations truly threaten the survival of your business or team. Others merely feel existential because they touch deeply held values or identity.

During the coaching session, I introduced the concept of bounded chaos—containing the disruption so it’s big enough to spark growth, but not so big it becomes destructive. This is chaos with safety rails.

Here’s how to bind chaos effectively:

• Clarify what’s actually at stake versus what feels urgent.

• Make a rapid plan—even if it’s imperfect, action reduces overwhelm.

• Engage your team for shared problem-solving and emotional support.

• Set emotional time limits—allow discomfort to be felt, but not to dominate indefinitely.

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Building Resilience Through Discomfort

From a growth mindset perspective, discomfort is not a signal to retreat—it’s a signal to learn. And from an Energy Leadership™ standpoint, each time you choose to engage with discomfort intentionally, you raise your baseline energy.

My client committed to small experiments: intentionally stepping into non-existential challenges, sitting with the discomfort for a set period, and resisting the urge to “fix” immediately. Over time, these reps build both confidence and capacity, making the next chaotic moment easier to navigate.

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Reframing the Story

Our session closed with a clear takeaway: chaos is neutral. It’s the meaning we attach to it—and the energy we bring to it—that determines whether it becomes a drain or a driver.

By embracing a growth mindset and consciously shifting energy upward, leaders can stop avoiding the very conditions that forge resilience. Instead, they can invite and use chaos intentionally, turning discomfort into a catalyst for clarity, focus, and transformation.