"Everything in the world is changing (so fast)..."
Asian cultures are known for weaving together ancient wisdom with modern progress. As my family and I celebrate the Lunar New Year tonight, I think back on decades of personal learning from being immersed in several asian cultures, such as the Chinese.
We celebrate entering the Year of the Snake. The Chinese zodiac animal cycle, known as Shēngxiào (生肖), dates back to the Han Dynasty, so this tradition is over 2,000 years old.
Just as a serpent can both hold its ground and move with #agility, the tradition of holding on to the storytelling rooted in this wisdom allows societies to maintain their core traditions while simultaneously embracing and advancing innovation.
This metaphor is particularly apt when discussing the intersection of traditional cultural practices and technological advancement. The serpentine approach suggests a path that isn't strictly linear but rather organic and adaptable, allowing for the preservation of cultural heritage while creating space for growth and evolution.
In a world of rapid technological advancement, just look at the disruptive Chinese artificial intelligence lab, #DeepSeek, which develops open-source large language models that seems to shake up / wake up the markets that usually operates within a Silicon Valley-centric mindset. DeepSeek unveiled a low-cost and high-performing AI model that sent shockwaves through Wall Street, erasing $1 trillion from the Nasdaq’s market value. This is just one example of China's technological prowess, alongside advancements in quantum computing, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Rest assured, that our lives in 2025 will continue to see massively disruptive events such as this from many unexpected corners of our planet. So YES, the world is changing.
But my reflections around Lunar New Years builds on the fact, that not everything changes.
The Lunar New Year traditions that families practice today would be instantly recognizable to their ancestors from centuries ago
It's comforting to remember that some of life's most meaningful aspects remain wonderfully constant. The Lunar New Year traditions that families practice today would be instantly recognizable to their ancestors from centuries ago - from the symbolic foods shared at reunion dinners to the joyful exchange of red envelopes -"hóngbāo" (红包)- and the careful hanging of spring couplets. These enduring rituals remind us that while the world around us may transform at breakneck speed, the human need for connection, celebration, and cultural continuity remains beautifully unchanged.
We humans have a fundamental psychological need for stability and predictability. This need is hardwired into our biology - our brains are designed to seek patterns and establish routines as a way of conserving energy and maintaining emotional equilibrium. When we engage with unchanging traditions, familiar rituals, or consistent natural cycles, we tap into a deep well of psychological comfort.
Everyone from business- or political leaders as well as community leads need remember to design our human environments for both progress and evolution, but also for the cultural traditions and psychological needs we have, to ensure our Human Development for a #Tech World plays out to everyones benefit.
This duality - between preserving tradition and pushing innovation - reflects a broader truth about human nature. We seek both stability and progress, comfort and challenge, the familiar and the novel.
Just as we find comfort in other unchanging aspects of life - the changing of seasons, family rituals, or the reliable rhythm of our favorite music - we also thrill at new discoveries and possibilities. Whether it's a traditional festival or a technological breakthrough, both have their place in our lives.
The key lies in finding balance. Like the yin and yang symbol so central to Chinese philosophy, we need both elements to create a harmonious whole. As we celebrate this Lunar New Year, perhaps that's the most valuable lesson we can take: embracing both the constancy of tradition and the excitement of change.
In our professional lives, this might mean maintaining core values while adapting to new technologies. In our personal lives, it could be about preserving family traditions while remaining open to new experiences and perspectives.
As we enter the Year of the Snake, let's celebrate this abundance of wisdom that is available to us all, if only we reach out and connect with our elders. Lets aim for a daily life somewhere between the old and the new, the stable and the dynamic. After all, it's not about choosing between tradition and innovation - it's about finding the right balance between both.
What are the traditions you value, and the new innovations that excites you the most. Let me know about both in the comments below?
Happy Lunar New Year to you and your loved ones.
-Lars Lin
#LunarNewYear #Innovation #Balance #Tradition #Technology #Leadership