Bamboo In The Wind

We are overwhelmed when we find ourselves alone deep into the ocean. We are on a path of no immediate return and are far from calling for help. What if we cannot escape the dangers of a rough, unpredictable deep ocean? The very thought we need to get ourselves out of the lonely sphere is paralyzing.  While the situation is daunting and untenable for our confidence to hold for too long, the real question to ask is what drew us to the deep ocean in the first place. Did we embark on the journey to discover different ways toward our goals and desires?  Did we imagine that no one would ride with us along this path? Or, did we simply not trust the available journeymen in the hope that we had to be on our work and we were self-sufficient? Most things happen in an environment of balancing forces with us as one actor. The best skill to develop is to spot an opportunity to use our resources to find other balancing forces that amplify our effort and not overwhelm us into inaction!

Options are created with prejudice! Our biases influence them, our fears shape them, and our imagination brings the options into reality. Options that work are the ones that take away the burden of being right, the burden of being compliant with the norms, and the burden of being in the race of comparison. Options must pass the test of individual choice that makes a living below our means - most vitally living below our expectations!

What determines we are broad and open-minded is the accommodation of points of view. Points of view belonging to us are vital ones. We rarely realize this, but we are selective about our own points of view.  We like to portray our graciousness regarding our outward gestures and think we are broad-minded.  However, our outward outreach often depends on what it gets us - happiness, status, luxury, or adds to our confidence. We rarely bend backward and make an outward outreach that is gracious when any of these are missing, or we are touching our fears! An open mindset is all about accommodating points of view even in the absence of benefits and even when fear lurks around us!

It is always challenging to make it look easy. Sometimes, you can focus on something other than making it look easy.  Making it look hard might certainly draw momentary attention. Indeed, it can bring the limelight at the moment. That is beside the point. The more important part is how you make the recipient feel! Got the loop to listen, setup?

How much of what we want, really want, is due to ideas that culture has given us. It is a trap that leads to endless how much we truly need!  Culture amplifies similar behavior - both positive and negative. In the process, we lose track of this is what we really want! If we are becoming captives of desires leading to no end to our unhappiness, it is best to rejig our desires fueling our priorities.  It is best to work around the idea of our desires and follow the path that makes sense.  Adopting new ideas, we did not desire might be great for all we know!

Picking yourself up from the match you just lost is not trivial! Dusting off the memory of loss is rarely easy. Reminiscing that you lost gives the comfort that your situation is unique, and all odds are stacked against you. But that is rarely the case. Most people face similar circumstances and meet similar outcomes. What differentiates those stuck in the outcomes from the ones who roar back to confidence is the willingness to understand the reasons for the results.  Those that come out ahead in life and professions often confront the reality of the outcomes with grace rather than bitterness. With introspection rather than comparison. With action rather than procrastination! Positive engagement with adverse outcomes energizes everyone into action.  Try engaging yourself! You will be up and ahead before you know it!

However much we know, there is always something we don't know. We discover that we don't fully understand when we cannot  see the outcomes. The first step is to acknowledge that outcomes result from what we know and the actions we take based on it! Thus it is vital to focus on what we know - to collect information that helps us build our understanding. Building understanding grows our knowledge and provides us ways to apply it in the real world. That is building skills. It is also vital to focus on knowing what we don't know. Then, we can collect information that builds our understanding of our weaknesses. Understanding our weaknesses increases our ability to learn about what we are missing and provides ways to survive when the odds are not in our favor. Focusing on knowing and understanding over time translates into clarity at the base of solid decision-making.

It all depends on the emotional upheaval experienced. The more the emotions, the more irrational the outlook! Then the gravity of the situation appears unfathomable and incomprehensible. On the other hand, the fewer the emotions felt, the lesser the gravity of the situation! Understanding of all events happens from the interpretations of these two ends of the situations spectrum. Bringing them to a converging point in the middle gets the viability of resolving the situation. The viability view of the circumstance is the prime need for defining the problem.  Only then can we know the problem's relevance and embark on solving it. 

It is important to periodically revisit things we are involved in. We tend to think we are doing everything right. The shred of doubt looms on us when, despite doing everything outstanding, success is elusive. Nothing wrong with missing the mark - repeatedly. But it is vital to evaluate what makes us miss the mark.  The relentless pursuit of the reasons and assessment of contributing insufficient mental models is the best investment in developing a chance of forward motion.  Introspection and honesty uncover it.

It is vital. The picture remains hazy  without piecing together the evidence,     Confusion arising from any such haziness lingers until we review the evidence that builds the theory of our vision. Review of factors that are the basis for our understanding and decision making is a great initiative. Often, it is deemed unnecessary, but it can catch errors and assumptions built from our biases. When we are unclear, unassembled the evidence that has built our picture and then relentlessly rebuild the picture!

When a fine beam of sunlight pierces through the rooftop into the dark room, they light up the dust particles in its way, illuminates, and becomes visible. That is the Tyndall effect! The effect happens because of the light scattering by dust particles around the room. The particles are not just visible; they appear mobile and charged enough to be an active part of the environment. The particles' activity and effect on light scattering will only be known once the Tyndall effect occurs. Much of our work involves behind-the-scenes darkroom work to develop films into lasting, memorable pictures. It takes periodic sun rays slipping through doors, windows, or sunroofs to brighten up all energetic particles of work we are engaged in. But first, merely doing the particles of work with no narrative is the way to go!

The relentless pursuit for clarity is the only way to escape a quagmire! Until then, all bets are off. Things may look impossible and unachievable. Fear has a gripping effect on how we feel, think, and do what we do. Fear is what we feel when things don't go as per the plan. The clarity comes from an immense effort to shed the fear. It is only then we can see other possibilities. So while we might indulge in creating effortless plans to navigate the quagmire we are in, we must steadfastly work to push aside the cobwebs of fear gripping us.  It requires a deliberate attempt to walk through it until we realize the fear makes us predict the worst future, and when we show the courage to walk under the anxiety, we know that reality does not appear as sinister. That is the moment of reckoning! Then, the self-belief emerges - almost automatically. First, we need to believe. Believe that fear is a picture created by our mind. It is our own effort to protect the image of our success. Shed t...

It is relative. In epidemiology, prevalence is the proportion of a particular population affected by a medical condition at a specific time. In daily life, however, prevalence indicates the presence of a particular circumstance, situation, or condition based on what we experience. What is prevalent is a function of our historical perspective and the time we apply.  Historical perspective is the bias we carry for learning about the world around us. How fixated we are about the understanding we have developed determines the prevalence of things (or absence) we witness.  The closer it is to our biases, we are quick to echo that our experience is prevalent! We have seen it ourselves. We see it with others often! Prevalence is a measure of how relatable our experiences are. If our historical worldview does not contain what we experience, it is something new. And that is an exciting possibility!

What is our duty? Is it to like everyone even if it means we don't feel that way? Or it is to be respectful of everyone to the best we can.  It always needs clarification! It is almost impossible and futile to like everyone because it comes at the cost of pretense.  Besides, it is often against what we feel. And going in a direction opposite to how we think is problematic.  It is expensive to pretend because it has a cost of unreal and unproductive interactions. On the other hand, being respectful gives us a chance to know everyone's point of view.  They might open up with us so much that we like them enough to build an association.  A productive and long-lasting one!

Steadfastly taking the steps that clarify uncertainty is the best remedy to overcome obstacles. When faced with a stumbling block, the best thing in our hands is to make decisions that lead to forward movement. This means taking even those decisions you usually would not make. Or those decisions without adequate supporting evidence that they would work. But making decisions forces us to learn what works and what does not. That causes the forward motion!

It is true! It always has been! The more we are attached to something, the more we are dependent. The creeper is, after all, dependent on the tree to be able to survive, grow and flourish. While the tree enjoys the responsibility, letting creepers all over you is bound to be troubling. While support is an excellent virtue, it is addictive. Because once we know that environment learns to take support from us, it cajoles the feeling that we are always needed. That is precisely the blind spot that makes us embark on heroics rather than on here's journey! To be on the hero's journey, stop clinging to the unnecessary. Make surroundings self-sustaining. Pragmatically. And then relentless define your own problems and needs for support. You will automatically embark on the hero's journey!

Of course, thinking someone is self-righteous is marred with opinion makers' bias. And so, it is easy to discount such remarks as irrelevant and be protective of ego that we could do no wrong. Without a doubt, self-esteem must be protected at any cost. But when we are protecting egos, it crosses a blurred line. Often, we need to recognize which of the two sides we are working to protect. Both end up building pride. But one of them blindsides us into thinking we are on the right path until we find no one else is walking in the way we are on. We don't need anyone to tell us we are on the wrong path. We need to notice who is eager to believe in what we say and do. When we learn to see that, we have over the danger of being self-righteous. On our own!

It is a lonely process. However, you expect someone else to make the choice; it is an expectation! It won't happen that way. That is why making a choice is challenging and often burdensome. It might feel like the wilderness at that juncture where you are left with your own perils. The best thing you can do is to walk the desolate path. You will find a company even there. The new companions there will help you find your way back to regain agency! The agency is what makes difficult choices look plausible!

It is normal to wish the problems away! If closing our eyes to an oncoming onslaught does not make us safe. The best defense against uncertainty is imagining scenarios, understanding the psyche that triggers those, and then relentlessly building the understanding. Until we have a clear picture of the root of the problem. Finding the root of the problems is the only way to realize how to deal with them, as tiring and frustrating as it can be. If fear of testing times drives our actions, we would want problems to disappear without our involvement. We might even deem to be victims. But that is just our perspective; it is not the reality. Testing times are an opportunity to develop our instincts, observe our response to adversity and find the courage to get over the problems till the end. We have the option to play a deaf ear and walk away. Or, we can choose to engage to change the outlook. What is better is entirely up to our view of understanding.

Responsibilities bring the need for specific actions. These actions must be to the benefit of improving the circumstances. It is often said that responsibilities are carried credibly and satisfactorily when the actions required are determined by understanding the circumstance and those involved or affected by it. The sheer initiative to understand the nature of circumstances makes us responsible. Further, taking action to improve the odds of those involved in them makes us credible and trustworthy. The trouble arises when faced with the opportunity to observe a circumstance. We want to know our role and whether we need to play it, even if there is one. An unresolved dilemma can make us evasive in the face of real-life circumstances or evolves into a lack of ownership over time. At first, the impact appears protective of self-interest. Still, over time it is abrasive in the long term, potentially weakening others' trust, lowering our standing, and thus damaging our long-term self-in...

The game starts looking fun! But sometimes, a sense of relaxation sets in. The hard work done to get to the warm-up stage is often forgotten.  That is the time to bring back the rigor and attention.  Doubling down on our discipline is an easy way out of a surprise dwindling! Being vigilant about every tactic and having a strategy for every move of all that is up against us is excellent preparation. When we warm up to the pitch, it is time to build our innings without pressure to create a miracle. Progressing to something meaning and satisfying is just as good!

When we find ourselves on an uphill path, we think we have no option but to take the climb before us. Not doing so then looks weak.  While the climb is steeper and detrimental to our progress in many cases, other opportunities must be taken - unquestionably. Alternatives are meant to be equally ideal paths to get to the destination we aim to reach. We find it impossible to keep going when we are unwilling to abandon the climb for pride's sake. In all other cases, we are nurturing ego that tells us backing down means we are defeated. Impossible is our own making. We must pierce through our thinking and find what is viable and enjoyable. Alternative to impossible to doing something that amplifies belief!

Free of all expectations and anticipations, let us enter the fray! Give it the best we have. Trust the preparation. Believe the instincts and take a plunge into the river of performance. There is no perfect world; there is no perfect innings. All we have is to be fully immersed in the game. Let the fun begin! Provide attention. Just be yourself! Every time!

Here we are. The moment we have been waiting for is upon us. All the hurdles, preparations, strategies, research, and camaraderie have brought us to the door of a narrow canal. Now no more preparation. All we need is a calm, composed, disciplined march from here. A battle of mind will introduce confusion. We must not let it. It is temporary. We must distribute our experiences into segments.  Each segment has its own purpose. Once the segment underway is over, better to move on and focus on the next one. The way to win a battle of the mind is to put it in a state of rest even when it feels hazy and continue to march until it turns out bright on the other side.  Fearlessly!

Insensitivity is at the root of many problems. It smacks of a lack of care. Missing care has ripple effects.  First, it portrays ignorance toward the situation and dwindles the confidence of those impacted by it. It is a terrible thing to have to face insensitivity towards our plight. But the even more worrisome part is we are looking for sensitivity from somewhere else. It is a sign of us wanting to be at the mercy of others' help, opinion, and feelings. It is futile. When we see shreds of ignorance around us, it is a sign that we must stand up for ourselves, become sensitive, and indulge in making decisions.  When faced with shreds of ignorance best to shed procrastination and move to be decisive!

Every so often, we encounter a situation where the adequacy of our knowledge, the limitation of our understanding, and the fallacy of our biases get exposed. It is never pretty to be found in the corner, with nowhere to hide.  Our reaction is strange at best. In the face of adversity, we like to open our defenses. We try to prove ourselves right - with all our might. The urge to prove right is a rush that derails our chances to succeed. It diminishes our opportunity to influence outcomes, command respect and gain adequate competence. The urge is temporary. Wait and let it pass by!

You must be present to make the most of the moment. No question about it. When you are present, you will know the implication of missteps and the benefits of timely actions. The critical part is grasping the importance of the moment. That the place where you are has significance in the progression of life or work. The grasp of the criticality of the moment makes you sit up and note what you are up against. And that is all that counts when we are fighting against all odds!

The strange aspect of progress is that it is invisible. The rigor and discipline of focusing on the near field help avoid blind spots.  Once we turn all our energy to work with a one-foot hurdle, we begin to feel more sure of ourselves, making results come within reach. That makes us confident.  Conviction builds when we make sense of what works for us and because we understand why it works or does not! Conviction allows us a place in the remote corner, imagine the future in our minds, and begin smaller one-foot steps.  That is how to build an invisible momentum that carries you into the future!

There comes a time when thinking gets scattered all over the place. Commotion prevails, confusion takes over, and decisions are emotionally influenced.  We dither in essential matters. We may be in a rightful place to feel that way, but it creates an impact.  If we face this situation, it is not unusual. We must be prepared to go through the natural derailment we face. In fact, the downward slide we feel is often out of our control. As much as the sliding process is disappointing, it also reveals the cause that triggered the derailment. That is the moment we consolidate ourselves, and dithering disappears!

We develop a picture by emphasizing separate parts and imagining the related themes to make a portrait. When we are developing separate parts, it looks futile and unrelated. Until we can locate a string to tie them into something more meaningful. The thing is, the string that runs through disparate parts only emerges quickly. It requires taking a piece to draw and imagining the adjacent work until we make meaning of many of those pieces. Designing any system of work requires a starting point that gives you a chance to think about the next step. A series of such actions will teach us to understand and enhance the utility of our work. Clarity comes in drips - invisibly and in nuggets. That is the time to be extremely patient as it accumulates over time. Then we can leverage it in buckets - abundantly - with a position of strength! Until then, find a way to collect in drips - who knows, we might be building reservoirs!