Navigating in These Perilous Times
Written By: Sanderson Sims
If we are honest about where we find ourselves in this particular time, no matter how old we are, it is perhaps one of the most confusing periods we have lived in.
For many it is the uncertainity of just making ends meet. For others it is a disbelief in seeing cherished, long-held values being blatantly abandoned for personal power. For some it is the resentment of the speed of change which has taken away more than it has given, or a yearning for the privileges and lifestyle of a time gone past.
Our collective anxiety might come from the shear bewilderment of how to address the macro-picture of climate change and its repercussions, an impending war, a polarized political environment, and an uncertain economic picture which feels like it is built on a house of cards.
If we get wrapped up in the news, social media, and the instant onslaught of information we can become addicted to algorithms that feed one perspective only. Or possibly like a deer in the headlights, we may freeze and become too startled to function in a healthy mode.
Under these conditions people yearn for the promise of easy answers from those in high positions. But like the “Call of the Sirens,” those mythical beautiful women, in Greek Mythology whose melodic voices lured sailors to the shoals, causing ships to crash, these easy promises usually result in disappointment and disaster for those heeding the call.
However, there are some who are navigating these changes remarkably well. They have through time, experience, and dogged determination come to realize that the path forward is a function of turning toward inward guidance. We don’t have to know where everything is going, but that we just need to know what the next step is.
Yes, there are examples of “super achievers” who know exactly what they are doing and where they are going. Yet, there are countless others steering what they might feel is a rudderless boat. For example, Paul Cezanne who became a master of Post Impressionism, and one of the world’s greatest painters, was rejected and overlooked throughout his early life. He did not blossom until in his late 40’s. Colonel Harland Saunders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, did not start that company until he was in his 60’s. Morgan Freeman had been acting for many years, but his emergence into the limelight did not come until he was in his 50’s with “Street Smart” and Driving Miss Daisy.”
The point is that looking for answers inside of oneself for the next step is ultimately the best way forward. It is finding the discipline to reserve time to be quiet, meditate, and focus intently on asking what your next step is. And then to be open to synchronicities and revelations that provide answers. Do not become disappointed in the speed or nature of what unfolds for you and around you, but know you are on the right path. This will allow the realization that “Life is indeed a journey. So, enjoy the ride.”
Photo by Anthony Gorenchan from Burst Photos.
