SOLUTIONS
Krishna C. Kalva
I went swimming over the weekend and noticed some kids trying to learn how to swim with the help of their parents. This column is an extension of my thoughts as I watched the swimming lessons.
Some kids were initially scared at the sight of water or the depth. And some others were unsure if the parents would be able to protect them as they learned to swim. This all was familiar to me as I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago with my nineyear-old.
Fear appeared to be a pattern amongst the learners. Fear is a universal experience and in this case, the feeling existed where there was no control on what would happen next. I could see that fear was minimal when the kids were able to touch and feel the ground. The moment the water got deeper, there was panic and the immediate reaction was to seek help or go backwards to touch the ground and feel secure.
I realized that learning to swim or anything new is an adventure; and the way one handles uncertainty makes the entire experience unique.
Uncertainty (or not knowing) can be termed as stepping into groundlessness. As stated earlier, fear is one of the fundamental reasons we’re vulnerable to uncertainty. If we look closer, the underlying feeling could be insecurity, failure, loss of reputation or anger, individually or collectively masked in the form of fear. It could be fear of water, losing control or fear about the thought of fear.
One of the proven ways to navigate uncertainty is to stay curious. A curious mindset will help us actively observe our thoughts to identify key moments that require attention and release our energy from moments that act as barriers. Once we actively identify and act upon moments that matter, we slowly move away from fear and navigate toward the reality of the given situation and our thoughts about the unfolding of events.
While stepping into groundlessness is not a linear path, the uniqueness of the experience lies in trusting ourselves by remaining unattached to any preconceived outcomes. Through nonattachment, the path will present opportunities or outcomes that act as a guiding force helping us move forward.
One of the key outcomes of stepping into groundlessness is perspective. A perspective that is personalized, authentic and that anchors us on our individual journey.
Let me take your attention back to the original idea, stepping into groundlessness. What started as a simple observation at the swimming pool helped me share my perspective. It’s an open invitation for us to apply and personalize our journeys and gain perspective that is unique to each one of us.
Not knowing can be unpleasant at times; once we are able to look beyond the feeling, we give ourselves permission to come out of the smallness of the given moment. What might appear as a major hurdle can loosen its grip on us if we can step aside to deconstruct the underlying fear about the moment.
Through practice and coaching, we can learn the techniques to deconstruct each moment that unfolds and develop a language for ourselves to communicate the perception of not knowing. Once we develop the right language, not knowing or uncertainty will help us step boldly into groundlessness without any fear.
Krishna C. Kalva is program manager for sales leadership excellence in Germany for Siemens Healthineers. Email him at krishnachaitanya.kalva@siemens-healthineers.com or connect through LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/krishna-chaitanya-kalva-a2773123.
