Finally, we find consistency in our life when we become “true believers.” This often accompanies our entrance into the inner temple. There are a set of tenants in our religion or life philosophy that requires us to think, feel and act in a certain manner. Each of the tenants is compatible with each of the other tenants. We find a long history of debate and resolution associated with each tenant that ensures full alignment. This is “God-given” “Gospel” and contains no contradictions (though there are often many contradictions that are never acknowledged).
Furthermore, each tenant is aligned with an overall view of the world and with a set of commandments regarding how one should act in this world. There is nothing but consistency in our life when there is full alignment with the food we eat, with the prayers we pronounce several times each day, with the people (“fellow believers”) we allow into our life, with the person we choice to marry, and with the way in which we are preparing for our own death. All of these “faithful” preferences and practices fit within a single comprehensive and rigid framework. With this framework in place, there is little opportunity for contradictions to arise in any domain of our world or at any moment in our life. Yet, at what cost . . .
Conclusions
In essence, there are two ways in which to address the challenges of VUCA-Plus. We can escape to Serenity—and absorb all of the costs associated with this condition of denial and dysfunction. We can instead remain with these challenges and find ways in which to embrace and find both energy and partial solution within each challenge. Furthermore, I believe that we can “manage” the polarities that reside inside each of the six VUCA- Plus aspects.
I find myself asking a first question: am I being overly optimistic in suggesting that polarity management can be helpful as we face the challenges of VUCA-Plus and of expertise in crisis? I also ask a second question: can we really hold on to two or more contradictory beliefs without dropping one of them? Perhaps i should replace these two questions with a third and fourth question. Third, do we have any other option if we are to successfully address the overwhelming challenges of VUCA-Plus? Fourth, if there is another option is it just some form of regression to serenity?
Management of the challenge of VUCA-Plus as well as the polarities inherent in each aspect of VUCA-Plus brings us to a level of meta-learning. We learn about the management of each aspect and each polarity by spending time reflecting on and learning from this management. What are the ways in which we most successfully identify, analyze and manage the contradictions inherent in polarities associated with the six aspects of VUCA-Plus.
I propose that Polarity management enables us to hold two or more beliefs in abeyance as we slowly and thoughtfully consider the merits and drawbacks associated with each of these beliefs. I believe that we can apply what we have learned from engaging each of these six aspects to our work with each of the other aspects. This meta-learning enables us to lean into and learn into a future that will undoubtedly pose even greater challenges than we now find in mid-21st Century life. Am I being too optimistic? The alternative is to remain frozen on a 21st Century savannah inhabited by many VUCA-Plus lions. We stand motionless and helpless watching and feeling the polarities swirling around our psyche and soul. Not a very healthy stance . . .
______________________
Download Article 1K Club
