On holiday in Taiwan in May, the geek in me was thrilled to find a 660-ton pendulum near the top of the Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building.
Picture a room-sized orb hanging off the top of the skyscraper.
It’s called a Tuned Mass Damper and stops the building from excessively swaying during an earthquake/typhoon.
During the 3 Apr 2024 Taiwan earthquake that flattened buildings in parts of the country, the skyscraper stood tall and steady.
The science involves anti-phase resonant frequencies.
Translation: the heavy orb sways, so the building itself doesn’t.
In the face of chaos, the orb anchors the building from within.
It made me think. What anchors us?
What North Star guides us amidst the inevitable bouts of chaos in our personal/professional lives?
For some, it’s our faith.
Or our family. Or friends.
For others it’s our values, our beliefs, our purpose.
Or all of the above.
Just one day after, I had a difficult call with an irate sibling
He angrily accused me of sabotaging him.
A few years ago, this would have rattled me for days.
This time, I got over it in minutes.
I’m still unsure how to solve the issue but knowing I was doing right by my other siblings – and my own values – grounded me.
Two thoughts.
First, are we aware of what guides us?
If not, we need to find it and get to know it intimately.
So that when we are rattled, we cognitively know what to turn to, and can find North again.
Second, while a job may provide financial security and structure, it’s our faith, family, values etc that sustainably give lasting meaning.
Our roles at work may change but what endures is what grounds us.
What’s your Tuned Mass Damper?