A Bit More Open Than Yesterday In Search of Well-being in the Age of AI
I asked Claude to write an essay exploring 'The Essence of VUCA: How Social Norms are Shifting in Modern Society and How We're Adapting to It.' All text was generated by Claude, with no edits or modifications made. All characters and events in this story are fictional.
[Inspired by: "Occupational Being" by Hiromi Yoshikawa]
You might be feeling it too.
That weird sense that what used to be "right," "normal," and "obvious" doesn't quite fit anymore.
The head-scratching moments when you run into new ways of thinking.
And somewhere in between, that nagging question: "So... what am I supposed to do?"
This is a story about the little discoveries I made while figuring all this out.
Want to know what I figured out? It's actually pretty simple.
We don't need to chase perfect answers.
Just try being "a bit more open than yesterday."
That small step, starting with just listening,
Might be our ticket to a new kind of well-being.
Sure, this is my story of moving from a big manufacturer to a startup.
But really, it could be anyone's story.
Prologue: When Things Start Feeling Off
The Day My World Tilted
It happened about three months after I jumped ship from my corporate job to a startup.
During our morning meeting, this second-year engineer straight up told me, "That approach would waste our time." I totally froze. Tanaka, my 32-year-old boss, smoothly jumped in with, "Interesting point—let's hear more about those time concerns."
The young engineer was spot on, and his straightforward feedback helped us find a better way. The team just nodded and said, "Yeah, that makes more sense," and we moved on.
Coffee Chat Reality Check
Later that day, during my regular catch-up with Tanaka.
"You looked a bit shell-shocked this morning," he grinned.
"Yeah... at my old company, nobody would dream of saying that. They'd go more like, 'Thank you for your suggestion. Perhaps we could... maybe... consider other options?'"
"Oh, I get that. Used to be in consulting - took me a while to adjust too. But it's kind of interesting, right? Sometimes being direct with each other is actually more caring than being super polite about everything."
"Huh... never thought about it that way."
"Though hey, your reaction makes total sense too. There's definitely value in that culture of careful communication."
Sorting Things Out in My Head
Back home that night, I kept replaying my chat with Tanaka.
These moments keep popping up lately:
- Getting thrown off when told "no meetings after 7 PM, period"
- That weird mix of feelings when someone says "hey, you don't need to work that hard"
- Drawing a blank when asked "why are you so hung up on getting the perfect answer?"
Stuff that was totally normal at my old job gets questioned here. And things that would've been unthinkable before? They're just... normal here.
What Tanaka said really stuck with me. It's not about right or wrong. But man, why are these "obvious" things so different? And why do I kind of get both sides?
Talking with my surprisingly young boss made me realize something bigger was going on. Words like "proper," "correct," and "right" – their whole meaning seems to be shifting under our feet.
That Morning When Things Started Making Sense
Next day on the train, I was still chewing on all this.
Looking around the carriage was eye-opening. Mix of suits and casual wear everywhere. Just a few years back? Total suit parade. Now even something as basic as what to wear isn't a simple "right" or "wrong" anymore.
Thinking back to what Tanaka said – it's not just about old school versus new school. Take how we talk to each other: sometimes the formal, polite approach is exactly what you need. Other times? Being direct gets the job done better.
Looking at it this way, I started getting why I'd been feeling so off-balance.
What's Really Shaking
We used to have this rulebook in our heads about how things "should" be:
- How to deal with higher-ups
- How to handle work
- How to fit into the organization
- What counts as "making it"
But now? That whole rulebook is getting rewritten.
Everyone's talking about this "VUCA era" thing. Sure, tech's moving fast, markets are wild. But I think the biggest shake-up is happening somewhere deeper.
What's "right," what's "appropriate" – the very way we judge these things is getting fluid. And we're not just talking surface-level rules here. This goes right down to the core of what we value.
Chapter 1: VUCA - Not Just Another Buzzword
Reality Check from HR
Had an interesting chat with my friend in HR the other day. He laid out this observation about the new kids at work:
"These young folks just straight up ask 'Why do we need to do this?' Like, who would've dared back in our day?"
He had this half-amused, half-worried look when he added:
"But you know what? Their questions actually make sense. We can't just go 'because that's how we've always done it' anymore. We need real reasons..."
When "Obvious" Isn't So Obvious
After that chat, I started paying more attention to what was happening around the office.
No joke, people are questioning "obvious" stuff left and right:
- New hires just asking "What's the point of this meeting?"
- That senior guy who always preached "lifetime employment" suddenly announcing he's switching jobs
- A dad coming back from paternity leave and choosing shorter hours
But here's the wild part – how people react to this stuff. Things that would've been flat-out "impossible" a few years ago are now just... normal. Or better yet, people are asking "Why would that be impossible?"
VUCA Through a Different Lens
Keep hearing about this "VUCA era" stuff - you know, Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity.
But sitting here in the middle of it all, I'm starting to think it's hitting us deeper than just market trends and tech changes. The very way we judge what's right or wrong is getting shaken up.
Had another coffee chat with Tanaka about this.
"VUCA isn't just about the business environment going crazy," he said. "It's about our basic values getting reshuffled. We're entering this era where we can't just point at something and say 'this is definitely the right way.'"
Man, did that hit home.
Chapter 2: Standing at a Crossroads
The Old-School Playbook
Makes me think about my grandpa's stories. His generation – the ones who rebuilt Japan after the war and powered through the economic miracle – they had this clear set of rules:
- "Work hard and you'll get rewarded"
- "Loyalty to your company is everything"
- "Always respect the higher-ups"
- "Don't stand out too much"
My dad's crowd pretty much copied and pasted these values. Even after the bubble burst, these "truths" held strong.
But now? That foundation's getting wobbly. And here's the really interesting part – it's not like the old rules are just getting replaced with new ones. Instead, both sets are kind of... coexisting? And we're expected to switch between them depending on what's going on.
That Nagging Voice Saying "Do It Properly"
Had a bit of a lightbulb moment recently. Even here at this startup, I'm still carrying around this heavy backpack labeled "must do things properly." It's not all bad, but sometimes it stops me from trying new stuff.
This whole "properly" thing... it's like we inherited it straight from those post-war reconstruction days. Pretty wild how these things stick with us, right?
Chapter 3: Finding Our Feet in This New World
Breaking Free from the Perfect Prison
So this happened during a project update meeting recently.
Couldn't get all the exact numbers ready in time, so I took a deep breath and went with estimates. The response? Totally caught me off guard:
"Actually, this is better. Getting the big picture early helps us more. We can fill in the details later."
At my old place? No way. But sitting there, it hit me – yeah, getting the rough idea out there faster actually helps the team move forward.
This got me thinking about a few things:
- Maybe "just start moving" beats "make it perfect"
- Maybe "learning from mess-ups" beats "avoiding mistakes"
- Maybe "why are we doing this?" beats "this is how it's done"
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Being "A Bit More Open" – Easier Said Than Done
Everyone keeps talking about "active listening" these days. You know the drill: listen carefully, drop your assumptions, clear your mind...
But let's be real – is that even possible?
Your brain's always going to pop up with thoughts. That "Actually..." is always going to creep up your throat. Sometimes you even feel bad about it.
Then I remember what Tanaka told me:
"Don't kill yourself trying to be the perfect listener. Just try to be a bit more open than yesterday. That's enough."
It's kind of like hitting the sauna for the first time. Initially, you're like "Can't... breathe..." But if you hang in there, your body figures it out, and suddenly you're thinking "Hey, this isn't so bad."
Same with listening to others.
First few minutes might be torture. Biting your tongue, just letting them talk.
But stick with it, and something magical happens – your mind settles, and you might actually learn something cool.
A bit more open than yesterday.
Today, maybe I'll hold that thought for just five more seconds.
Small stuff like that – it adds up.
Sure, holding back isn't always fun.
But man, when you break through to the other side? That feeling of getting it? Worth it.
Chapter 4: Well-being: The Remix
From "Not Good Enough" to "Getting There"
Another coffee chat with Tanaka (starting to see why they hired him as my boss):
"You're way too hard on yourself, you know that?"
"Am I?"
"Every time something's not perfect, it's 'I'm so sorry, I should have prepared better.' Nobody's got it all figured out. Isn't messing up how we learn?"
Looking back, at my old job, beating yourself up for not being "good enough" was like a badge of honor. But maybe here, in this new world, it's more about giving yourself credit for trying to grow.
New Flavors of Happy
Over beers with my HR buddy:
"The new kids? They care more about feeling fulfilled than getting a fat paycheck. But it's not like they're living in dreamland. They're pretty smart about balancing growth with paying rent."
Made me think. Seems like everyone's cooking up their own recipe for happiness:
- My old senior manager: "Climb that corporate ladder, take care of the family"
- The young tech wizard: "Keep learning cool stuff, live life my way"
- Tanaka: "Do work that matters, but don't forget to have a life"
None of them's wrong. Maybe that's exactly what makes our time special – there's no one-size-fits-all anymore.
Happiness 2.0
Had this moment of clarity the other day. We're basically in the middle of a massive experiment, trying to figure out what makes people happy in this new world.
The old generation had their checklist:
- Work your butt off
- Be loyal to the company
- Get those promotions
- Support the family
Tick those boxes, and boom – you were set. At least that was the deal.
Now? It's like everyone's writing their own rulebook. Which is cool but, let's be honest, kind of scary too.
Chapter 5: Pro Tips for Navigating This Mess
When Both Sides Are Right (Yeah, It's a Thing)
Picked up this weird habit lately. When I'm stuck on a decision, I try thinking: "What if both options are actually right?"
Like when we're dealing with:
- "Get it done quick" vs "Make it perfect"
- "Do your own thing" vs "Be a team player"
- "Move fast" vs "Do it right"
Used to drive myself crazy trying to pick the "correct" answer. Now? It's more like choosing the right tool for the job.
The New Game Plan
Tanaka dropped this wisdom on me:
"It's not about finding the one right answer. It's about finding what works best right now, together."
So here's the playbook I'm running with:
1. Notice your gut reaction (yeah, the "should" voice)
2. Don't let it boss you around
3. Read the room
4. Try something small
5. Adjust if it bombs
Plot Twist: We Might Be the Bridge
Got this comment from a new hire that made me think:
"You're kind of like a translator, you know? You get both the old-school stuff and the new way. And somehow you make them work together."
That's when it clicked. Maybe our generation isn't stuck between old and new – maybe we're the ones who can help these different worlds understand each other. Not by compromising, but by creating something new.
Epilogue: Dancing on Shifting Ground
Mom Drops Some Knowledge
Was back home recently, chatting with my mom. She's been an occupational therapist for over 30 years, helping people rebuild their lives after injuries.
I was whining about all the changes at work, and she hit me with this perspective:
"In my field, we look at happiness through four lenses: what people do (Doing), who they're becoming (Becoming), where they belong (Belonging), and who they are (Being). When these all click, that's when people feel good."
"Huh, tell me more."
"Take my patients. First, they're bummed about what they can't do. But gradually they start doing new things (Doing), see themselves getting better (Becoming), reconnect with family and friends (Belonging), and finally get to a place where they're like 'You know what? This is okay' (Being)."
Right then, everything just... made sense.
The Big Meeting (Where It All Came Together)
Six months into my new gig, got tagged to share what I'd learned. Standing there, nervous as heck, I just laid it out:
"You know that weird feeling we all get sometimes? I think I finally figured out what it is. We're all freaking out because what used to be 'right' isn't so clear anymore."
Saw some eyebrows go up in the crowd.
"At my old job, there was this template for being 'proper.' Follow the template (Doing), become a 'real' adult (Becoming), get your spot in the company (Belonging), and finally become who you're 'supposed' to be (Being)."
"But now? That template's getting a major rewrite. No wonder people like me, who jumped from the old world to the new, feel like we're going crazy sometimes. But here's the thing – maybe there isn't supposed to be just one way to be happy."
Threw in some real examples:
"Like that time I totally froze when that young engineer gave me straight feedback. Then Tanaka drops this bomb: 'Maybe being honest with each other is actually more caring than being polite.'
Not gonna lie, that messed with my head at first. But now I get it. There's this new way of doing things (straight talk), which helps us grow into different people (more open), creates new kinds of connections (real ones), and lets us be more authentic (the actual us)."
Started seeing some nods in the audience.
"Here's the cool part – our generation? We've got a foot in both worlds. We're not stuck in the middle – we're the ones who can help build bridges. Not by compromising, but by creating something new."
The Plot Twist at the End
After the talk, got way more responses than I expected.
People from all different generations saying "Yeah, I feel that." But what really got me was this comment from one of our veteran engineers:
"Been struggling to get these young folks lately. But thinking about it like different kinds of 'right'? Actually makes it kind of interesting."
And that's the thing – this isn't just about old versus new. We're right in the middle of redesigning what it means for people to thrive.
Is it going to be easy? Nah. But on this crazy, shifting ground we're standing on, we can build something pretty amazing, one small step at a time.
That's when I knew we were onto something good.
[End]