The question of ”Why” regarding COVID can be addressed at a more secular and political level. Perhaps the virus is just highlighting the cracks in our societies that have been ignored for many years. The virus is trying to teach us. We can learn from the virus about how to engage a polystatic process that contains realistic baselines and predictions regarding ways in which to address future viruses. Can we, in any way, frame COVID as an aspirational Essence that enables us to learn about and reform our health care system (as well as our own approach to confronting future viruses)? At yet another level, we might ask if Mother Nature is simply trying to take back her environment. During the COVID outbreak we could see all around us the signs of a clearer and less contaminated world–given reduced automobile travel and industrial production. Can we learn a lesson given this improvement in our environment? Can we assist Mother Nature without having to endure a pandemic?
Locus of Control: Uncertainty, Curiosity and Discernment
Psychologists have provided a label for this assumption that we have no control over the mysteries (or other issues in our life). They call this an External Locus of Control. They note that some people are inclined to view most issues as outside their control. Many issues are framed as mysteries. Operating in a Polystatic system, those who embrace an external locus of control do not believe that they can predict a specific change in our environment and that they can do nothing to influence those changes that do occur. They either adapt to the change or do nothing. A dominant external locus of control can leave us passive or frozen.
By contrast, some people tend to frame everything as puzzles which can be controlled—and are predictable. Psychologists identify the perspective embraced by these people as an Internal Locus of Control. Given this more optimistic perspective we can engage an activist polystatic process. We can predict that something can be done about this change in our environment. We act, await the outcome of this action and readily adjust our actions based on the initial outcomes. we find ourselves taking responsibility for this outcome when embracing an internal locus of control. We rejoice in the successful outcome and may enjoying a squirt of feel-good dopamine. Or we are hit with a bout of anxious given an unsuccessful outcome that should not be repeated. This leads us to prepare physiologically for a new set of actions. Given an internal locus of control, we may often be optimistic about the future but can easily be disillusioned. Those with an internal locus of control are vulnerable to mood swings, moments of intense anxiety, and late nights of work.
A critical role is played by discernment when it comes to locus of control. We tend to perceive puzzles, problems—and even messes, dilemmas and polarities—within our control if we have an internal locus of control and are inclined to act rather than sit back and reflect. With an external locus of control, we might perceive everything as being outside of our control—even puzzles. There is more likely to be agreement among all parties when it comes to mysteries. We all tend to agree that mysteries are taking place outside our sphere of influence or control—this is part of what makes mysteries so awe-full and compelling. This is also why collective angst regarding mysteries is often associated with the VUCA-Plus condition of Uncertainty.
Problems, messes, dilemmas and polarities are usually complex mixtures of controllable and uncontrollable elements. VUCA-Plus conditions inevitably contain this mixture. Furthermore, this mixture inevitably produces perceived uncertainty regarding the appearance of many Essential issues. Internal and external locus of control exist side by side—especially in the nested dilemmas and in the challenging polarities we often face with the virus and other mid-21st Century conditions.
