The world has changed dramatically in recent months. That should be clear to everyone by now. But the response to this change has been very mixed. Those who are "systemically important" are responding with heroic efforts and justified hopes for more attention and recognition.
The others can be divided into three groups: those who bury their heads in the sand, those who cry for help, and those who think about how to turn the crisis into an opportunity. And, of course, combinations of these three. All in all, something very interesting can be observed at the moment: skeptical bosses are finding that employees working from home are delivering good results.
Creating security through orientation
We are distancing ourselves socially and growing closer emotionally. Solidarity during the "shutdown" is being replaced by envy during the "restart." The previously sluggish pace of digitalization is now developing at rocket speed. Without guidance, uncertainty arises. That is understandable. Fear grows with the perceived loss of control. The starting point has changed, and with it the rules of the game. If we knew how long this crisis would last, the fear would be manageable. But the slow return to normality is wearing on our nerves. In situations like this, people cannot objectively establish control. So they try to do so subjectively.
As a coping strategy, they look for patterns that restore orientation. Since there are no tangible patterns in the foggy coronavirus crisis, they are invented. Conspiracy theories thrive on this fertile ground. They arise regardless of education, wealth, or status. In the US, one in two people believes in at least one crude theory. It makes the propagator feel unique and superior to others. The revealed secret knowledge creates a view of the truth that others do not see – they are therefore either stupid and gullible or part of the intrigue. At their core, these deeply insecure minds revolve only around themselves and their desire for validation.
The only certainty is uncertainty
These intellectual extremists are exaggerated expressions of tendencies that we all carry within us. Are we not familiar with this desire to be able to control everything? To never be confronted with anything unpleasant? And when a crisis comes and forces us to rely on ourselves, we realize how much we need guidance in order to be mentally stable and resilient. We talk about the desire for a free and self-determined life. About self-organization and agile working methods. But right now, we are experiencing how dependent we are on external order. And that we can orient ourselves by agreed and accepted rules. Of course, this external security is not real. It does not exist.
In today's world, uncertainty is the only certainty. Change is a constant. As long as we do not develop inner sovereignty, our actual level of personal responsibility falls far short of what we need to be truly self-sufficient. There is a great contradiction between desire and reality here. Therefore, ensure clarity and transparency in your environment—and thus orientation. In this way, you help people find inner rather than outer orientation. By learning to endure uncertainty. And to grow from it. This leads to inner greatness.
Yours, Boris Grundl
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