"Security is an attempt to try to make the universe static so that we feel safe"

Human beings possess a deep, often unconscious longing for stability amidst the inherent unpredictability of life. Security represents our effort to anchor ourselves, to carve out pockets of certainty in a world that is always changing. Anne Wilson Schaef observes that our pursuit of security is essentially an attempt to freeze the universe in place, to impose stasis upon an existence defined by flux. The underlying hope is that if everything remains unchanged, our safety and well-being will be preserved.

Such an impulse arises from vulnerability. The universe is vast, complex, full of forces beyond our control—natural disasters, unpredictabilities in relationships, shifts in health, or societal upheavals. Uncertainty evokes anxiety, so we build structures, routines, certainties—making plans, buying insurance, even adhering rigidly to beliefs or patterns—all in an effort to still the turbulence of life. The pursuit of security becomes less about risk reduction and more about postponing or denying change.

Yet life resists our efforts at stasis. Change is not just inevitable; it is the animating force of existence. Every day offers countless surprises, each moment arises to replace the last. In seeking security by holding fast to what is known, people may find themselves at odds with the natural order, missing out on opportunities for growth, fulfillment, and meaning. True safety, paradoxically, may come not from clinging to the static, but from cultivating adaptability, resilience, and the courage to engage with life’s uncertainties.

Schaef’s insight reminds us that the desire for security is rooted in fear, a natural and human reaction. But by recognizing this impulse and choosing to coexist with the unknown, individuals can move toward a richer, more authentic experience—one not defined by the impossible conquest of chaos, but by learning to thrive within its ever-shifting currents.