Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the current era is an age of rapid change, emphasizing that mental comfort must be disrupted and change should not be feared to adapt to this change. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that those who aim for change are individuals who act exceptionally, adding, “Those who can grasp change can produce. Those who fear change cannot progress into the future.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, pointed out the important considerations for adapting to change in today's world where change is felt very rapidly.
The only constant is the truth of change
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that change is the most important truth in human history, stating that many living beings in nature have continued many of their habits from past to present, adding, “For example, ants, spiders build their nests as they did a thousand years ago, whereas humans do not do the same. The reality of change is much more evident in humans. The famous philosopher who first expressed this was Heraclitus, one of the Anatolian philosophers. It is his famous saying: ‘The only constant is the truth of change.’ It is even said that the saying ‘You cannot step into the same river twice’ is also his. This is the most beautiful way to describe change.”
The lifespan of information has shortened in the age of speed
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the pace of change has increased today, saying, “Previously, change, especially in social events, technology, and human life, was slower. The lifespan of information was about 30 years, but now this period has fallen to two or three years. Change has accelerated much more because we live in the age of speed. Information has also become the easiest thing to change.”
Adapting to change is like riding a bicycle
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that with information mobility, economic and social mobility have also increased, stating, “This led to time pressure; time started to be insufficient. Adapting to change is like riding a bicycle. You need to maintain a certain pace while riding a bicycle. The moment you stop, the bicycle falls over. If you go too fast, it also falls over. Therefore, when an obstacle appears in front of you while progressing towards your goal, you will change your path, check your navigation, and proceed accordingly.”
Change activates the brain's pleasure center
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also stated that one must be constantly vigilant in adapting to change, saying, “There are studies on the effects of change on the brain. In the mid-regions of our brain, there is a chickpea-sized area. This section is also related to the reward-punishment system in the brain. It secretes tremendous pleasure. This region becomes very active during change. What activates that area of the human brain most is not a fixed salary but surprise gains. Rewards outside the ordinary give tremendous pleasure. One engages in mountaineering, embarks on new adventures, does new things. The person experiences pleasure as if they have had an orgasm.”
Status quo mentality does not want to lose its comfort zone
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the biggest obstacle to change is the status quo mentality, saying, “Some people are status quo-oriented. They have a certain comfort zone and do not want it to change at all. We particularly see this in successful businessmen. We see it in successful statesmen. They have established a certain order, and certain comfort zones have formed for them. They act according to protecting those comfort zones. They do not make new investments. Fear of loss emerges. Sometimes, a comfort zone forms in those who achieve a certain success, and they do not approach change because their routines are disrupted when they step outside their comfort zone.”
Those who aim for change act exceptionally
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that individuals who aim for change act exceptionally and successfully reach their goals, saying, “One of the best examples of such individuals is Fatih Sultan Mehmet. He carried ships over land. That was a very unconventional idea for its time. He brought over 70 ships over land. This demoralizes the opposing side. After that, he gains psychological superiority. The resistance on the opposing side is broken.”
It is necessary to foresee future changes
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that one of the most important characteristics of those who adapt to change is the ability to foresee possible future changes and manage future expectations, saying, “It is about foreseeing future changes and positioning oneself accordingly. Grasping these precursors and establishing connections between them is related to reason and judgment. Currently, in silico experiments are being conducted. Thought experiments are being carried out in a computer environment. Mathematical models are being developed. Just as it is possible to predict what the weather will be like five days later, it is also possible to make predictions about what will happen in the world five years from now by looking at global trends.”
To be the subject of change, new things must be done
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that it is necessary to be the subject of change, saying, “If we are to be the object of change, some developed countries produce digital platforms, and we use them. They produce ships, and we use them. In this way, we become the object of change. It is necessary to be the subject of change. For this, we need to do new things.”
Investment should be made in R&D centers
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the most important way to catch the pace of development and change in the modern world is through the development of R&D centers, saying, “It is necessary to encourage Generation Z to innovations in digital platforms. If we had trained 2,000 software developers instead of distributing tablets and computers to 2 million people, we would now be using our own digital platforms. It is not too late yet, what comes next is important. During this period, the most important thing is the development of R&D centers, creating opportunities for talented individuals, and for R&D to be the biggest investment. Since we want change, institutions need to increase their R&D budget.”
Those who can grasp change can produce
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that R&D budgets are what propelled South Korea and China to the top ranks in the world, saying, “World-renowned Amazon invests 80% of its revenue in R&D. It became the richest in the world. By producing new software and establishing new systems, it caught significant change and created a global market. Those who can grasp change can produce. This era is an age of rapid change; one must break the shell to progress. As Hz. Ali said, ‘We must raise children according to the coming age.’ We will disrupt mental comfort. Those who fear change cannot progress into the future.”