Adapt; Survive or Flee Natural Selection?
Discussing adaptation, if we follow Charles Darwin’s theory, we don’t need to be the strongest to survive. Simply adapt, recognize the environment in which we live, take a breath, and finish the day.
The environment includes various living elements: water, soil, minerals, solar energy, flora and fauna, and humans themselves. The functions of these elements differ, but their goal is to support the creation of a balanced environment.
Humans, with their complex lives, are living organisms that cannot be separated from “natural selection.” Whether we want it or not, like it or not, or are ready or not, natural selection will continuously affect each generation. It began approximately 4.28 billion years ago when life first appeared.
Failure to adjust to the environment is not something to be taken lightly. Suicide is one of the crisis consequences for individuals who are too isolated. According to Derajad Sulistyo Widhyharto, a sociologist from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), one of the causes of suicide is a person’s failure to adapt to the social environment, resulting in self-isolation and a lack of interaction with the surrounding community.
The Brave and the Indecisive: Should Anyone Be Superior?
Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this. Mindset and behavior become ingrained from childhood, leading individuals to have tendencies toward risk-taking, pessimism, excessive caution, low self-esteem, conflict avoidance, irritability to criticism, or even the opposite. These traits are formed within a person and can last a long time before they are realized.
As space and time continue to progress, many things will undoubtedly happen in the future. Self-readiness and mental maturity can be provisions, but a person’s ignorance of their own sickness can make them even sicker. Openness to oneself and the environment, care from those around us, and enthusiasm are all potential factors.
If individuals fail to adapt, they may be left behind, marginalized, or worse off. However, there are several options available. One option that I am aware of is to try to go with the flow, even if it seems too late.
It doesn’t matter if we are still at a lower level while others are already far ahead. What matters is that you, I, and all of us have and will travel the same path. It’s just a matter of time and who starts first. We will still reach our destination.
The second option is to find a new living environment. For example, if someone has been diagnosed with low academic potential, they don’t have to attend a school with a ranking system and high learning pressure. They can choose to enter a school that emphasizes life skills and supports their interests and talents.
When a person is unable to achieve something, such as not being smart enough to get into prestigious schools or trendy jobs, they can still recognize their potential elsewhere. Don’t be discouraged because you might have good social skills, courage, or even creativity that just need to be honed.
The point is, there are still other jobs available that don’t require high academic intelligence. This provides an alternative where anyone can choose an educational path or job that doesn’t demand the level of intelligence they desire but is still aligned with their interests and abilities.
Success is not solely determined by one factor, nor can it only be achieved through a linear progression. Understand your potential, choose whether to compete or distance yourself from competition, and pursue a field that truly resonates with you. Surviving or taking another step forward both require effort. Even if you don’t make it through the simultaneous evolution, at least you will be different, better, and more confident than before.
There're Thousands of Ways to Adapt.
This post is in no way encouraging anyone to give up, as “giving up” itself is defined as ceasing to try or take necessary actions to achieve a goal or overcome ongoing problems in our lives. I simply want to open the minds of some people who may feel discouraged, thinking that adaptation can only be accomplished by those who are strong, intellectually gifted, or academically skilled.
Here are some suggestions for improving knowledge and skills, adapting to environmental changes, finding new problem-solving approaches, seeking interaction with people who have diverse experiences and knowledge, not hesitating to seek help and support from others, improving mindsets and perspectives, actively maintaining physical and mental health, expanding social networks and connections.
There is nothing wrong with learning techniques for effective communication and collaboration with others, taking calculated risks and embracing new opportunities, avoiding technological illiteracy, maintaining a balanced life, dedicating time to learning and understanding new environments, striving for continuous flexibility and the ability to adapt as needed. Most importantly, anyone should “look for new opportunities” to prevent feeling stagnant or stuck.