The Art of Riding the Wave

The logo and motto of the university where I once studied used to be the silhouette of a coral accompanied by the tagline “In tranquillo mors - in fluctu vita” which is Latin for “In silence, death; in the surge, life”. Like many other visual identities, the coral has since been replaced by a more graphic and streamlined version, but the message remains: Without movement, we become stagnant and die.

Over the years the inner image of colorful and vital coral reefs swaying below sea level has stayed with me as a gentle reminder of the need to remain flexible. And when going through stormier periods, I have tried (and keep trying!) to remind myself that living in a state of flux is natural and that the opposite would potentially lead to a standstill.

As with most things in life, it is all about balance. When you have balance you feel a sense of grip that allows you to gain clarity and be more open to moving with the flow. Staying in balance is like surfing; it is about understanding how to ride the waves as they come, not trying to control the ocean. 

This said we all know how waves can be unpredictable. No two “surfs” are ever the same, and although you get skilled based on experience, you have to be alert and ready for the sudden change. When riding on the top of the waves, we typically meet the world with wonder, love, connection, and joy. When struggling below them, we battle challenges like heartache, depression, isolation, and pain.

The eternal movement of the ocean is asking you to come to terms with changeability as a constant and inevitable condition of life. At times it allows us to marvel at its elegant beauty and feel calmed by its peaceful rhythm. In other phases of our lives, it completely overwhelms us and makes us fearful of its presence and force. 

Staying in balance is constant work throughout life based on self-awareness and mindful action. It is about knowing yourself and constantly working on your tactics and adapting your approach. As much as we would like it to be fixed by a “one and done” solution, balance creation is a matter of continued practice that includes mind, body, and spirit.  

Like surfing, balance creation is about relating to the present and what is. It is about being aware of where you are as a prerequisite for understanding where you want to go and the action required for you to achieve whatever goal you set. When the distance between what you expected to be, do or have and the reality you are finding yourself in becomes too big, you start to feel out of balance and disconnected from yourself. 

As a coach, and from personal experience, I know how most of us tend to immediately focus on the goal we want to achieve and how to get there. This is a natural response to whatever urge we feel to change. But unless we spend time understanding what it is we want to change from (and why), there is a great risk that you end up setting goals with limited, or, and even worse, the wrong effect. 

From my own journey, I know that I run into trouble when I somehow end up focusing on my expectations instead of facing what blocking me from finding the right answers and solutions. Therefore, redirecting my attention is the task I find myself working on again and again and what I help my clients become aware of, as well. As their coach, I help them explore options and shift their focus toward where they want to be. Together we co-create the step-by-step journey it is to get there. One wave at a time.

Love,

Sille

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Life in the world of VUCA