We might even come to realize that we are living in several different valleys and can’t simply wait for the ball (virus) to leave one valley. As global citizens, we are not only living ourselves in multiple valleys—we are required to embrace multiple truths and perspectives arising from our life in each valley. And we must care about what happens in these other valleys, for we live there too. We are living in and journey through multiple valleys on a warped plane. Being a global citizen during this challenging era of VUCA plus and COVID-19 is quite a challenge.
What about dancing landscapes? When living on Waddington’s warped plane, we are likely to feel that this plane is a dancing landscape. We encounter new balls flipping into our valley. It is a tipping point for us—the unpredictability of the ball entering our valley may be experienced as a dancing change in our life. Is the landscape actually dancing, or is it each of us who is dancing?
Are we actually the ball on the warped plane that is entering a new valley? Are we what is “tipping” over the top of the ridge? Everything changes when one is moving into an unanticipated valley and rolling in a new manner through this new valley. There are new realities and new viruses. As global citizens we feel confused and vulnerable—with considerable justification.
Concluding Comments
There are many applications that can be extracted from the various models I have offered in this essay. Hopefully, I have identified a few that are relevant to the reader of this essay. A complex, unpredictable and turbulent environment is not easy to navigate. This is particularly the case when this navigate is through an environment that is swirling with COVID-19. We must look to many sources of wisdom and insight when thoughtfully formulating strategies that are responsive to the challenges of tippy virus-based vulnerability. I believe that some sources of wisdom are to be found in the recognition of internal and external locus of control as related to puzzles, problems, dilemmas, and mysteries. Wisdom might also be found in a full appreciation of rugged and dancing landscapes, as well as warped planes. Given the VUCA plus world in which we now live, courage and creativity must be found to complement this wisdom. This is especially the case when we must address the additional challenges of COVID-19 and other future pandemics. At least there will be the thrill of dancing with our family, community and society on this moving landscape and there is always the prospect of new scenery as we travel through multiple valleys on the warped plane. Life will never be dull.
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References
Bergquist, William (2019) Four Assumptive Worlds of Psychopathy I: Setting the Social Constructive Stage. Library of Professional Psychology. Link: Four Assumptive Worlds of Psychopathology I: Setting the Social Constructive Stage | Library of Professional Psychology
Bergquist, William (2020) “Leadership and Anxiety: Containment and Metabolism I: Anxiety in a VUCA Plus Environment. Library of Professional Psychology. https://psychology.edu/library/leadership-and-anxiety-containment-and-metabolism-i-anxiety-in-a-vuca-plus-environment/
Bergquist, William (2021) Revisiting COVID-19 Policy: A Psychological Perspective on Consideration and Compassion. Library of Professional Psychology. Link:https://library.psychology.edu/revisiting-covid-19-policy-a-psychological-perspective-on-consideration-and-compassion/
Kahneman, Daniel (2011) Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Kanter, Rosabeth. M. (1990) When Giants Learn to Dance. New York: Free Press.
Meadows, Donella (2008) Thinking in Systems. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Miller, John and Scott Page (2007) Complex Adaptive Systems. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.
Schön, Donald (1996). Educating the Reflective Practitioner. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Vaill, Peter (1989) Managing as a Performing Art. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Waddington, C. H. (1977) Tools of Thought. St. Albans, England: Basic Books.
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