Thoughts on Charles Darwin Day

February 12, 2009 is the 200th birthday of the evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. I have been musing about the following quote by him “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.”

The ability to change as the situation changes is also vital in our daily lives. When life brings us new challenges we tap into our coping resources to deal with the situation. A great example is the way the crew, passengers, and rescuers coped with the challenges of “the Miracle on the Hudson.” These people adapted in this unprecedented crisis. Staying focused on the task at hand ended up with all 155 people surviving a potentially catastrophic situation. The ability to keep their fears in check made it possible for all to think and act in a way that all the passengers and crew of US Air Flight 1549 were saved.

The current financial stressors are putting great coping demands on many people’s emotional and financial resources. There will be people who will discover that they have resources within them to adapt to their changing circumstances just like there will be others who will have trouble coping. The difference will be the internal ability to acknowledge the scared feelings while at the same time being able to keep them balanced with the ability to think and look for solutions. People can learn to strengthen their coping skills. By continuing to grow emotionally the ability to cope expands.

The Charles Darwin quote is a good reminder that we don’t have to be the strongest, or the most intelligent, to be successful at adapting to change. Our ability to adapt comes from our sense of self, our caring for others, and our emotional coping skills to deal with the inevitability of change.