In times of multiple crises and rapid change, uncertainty grows. The world is complex and that scares many people. In the “MUT Talk” with Tijen Onaran Tupoka Ogette analyzes why escaping into a supposed nostalgia does not offer real security. Instead, she advocates for a new form of internal flexibility.

The trap of simple solutions

When the present becomes unsettling, positions that look for scapegoats and promise simple truths gain strength. Ogette observes that this fear is often exploited to promote a longing for the past. But the image of a past in which everything was clear does not hold up to reality:

“This is gaining momentum at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty – with this supposed nostalgia for an earlier time when everything was still good. But firstly, not everything was clear, everything was never clear. When I think about the time of reunification: nothing was clear at that time.”

A home that can breathe

In response to the FOCUS online reader’s question about how one can maintain a feeling of home in a world in transition when everything constantly feels foreign, Ogette suggests a change of perspective. We need to redefine what “home” means to us.

“To be honest, I find a home in which everything always stays the same scary. Personally, I want a home that moves. That is flexible, where there is room to breathe, where we open the curtains and ventilate them. The answer to life is not rigidity, but a mobility that we have to learn.”

Conquer the fear of losing control

Tupoka Ogette openly admits that she likes to be in control. But she learned the crucial lesson from her mother: life cannot be controlled – and that is exactly its essence.

“The lesson of life is: You can’t control anything. That’s life, and that’s the beauty of it. I know for myself: If I don’t learn more, I won’t live anymore. I want this flexibility, even if I know the fear of losing control. But I want the flexibility more.”

For her, courage lies in feeling the fear, but never giving up the willingness to grow. Finding a home in change means being ready to understand new things until the last day.