Ambiguous Serendipity
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ambiguity | ambi ' gju ' iti |noun The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
serendipity | Ser(ə)n ˈ dipiti |noun The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
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Ambiguity, is currently a popular buzz word around offices and although it sounds somewhat intangible, it is an essential skill in and out of the workforce. Fighting against the unknown and freezing in the moment of uncertainty not only brings destruction to those you have been charged to lead, but it also makes you go a little crazy!
I confess, I am a control freak who longs for a crystal ball. I am much more comfortable with Gantt charts and process maps, that make me feel prepared and in control. Yet, as much as this may be my happy place, my life seems to play out more like the pick-a-path books I loved to read as a child. Monumental curve balls - in life and career - has meant throwing away the road map to navigate with gut and instinct.
Why can't life be more serendipitous than ambiguous?
Aaahhh... sweet serendipity. If I had to chose a favourite word in the English language it would be this one; the way it sounds when spoken, the meaning and the romantic notion it incites.
The older I get the more I see that those two words are the same, separated only by one thing: attitude. Life throws things at you - whether people, process, professional or personal - situations change. Messy, unplanned, unwanted events that throw you and force you into an inexact moment that put you in a 'pick-a-path' moment.
It is in these juxtaposition moments that we have two choices: surrender or scream. We can openly embrace the unknown with anticipation and find the sweet serendipity that comes with the force of change.
"I am a firm believer in serendipity - all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along. " David Levithan.
Or we fight against it - holding on, inflexible and controlling - and make our situations stagnate and our sanity fragile.
"Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity." Sigmund Freud.
Personally, I have been through some hard experiences but it is because of those that I am where I am today and as shitty as some of it has been I honestly wouldn't want it any differently.
Colin Shaw, in his article: Dealing with Ambiguity, the new business imperative gives some helpful tips for navigating the sea of ambiguity:
- Learn to act without the complete picture.
- Understand that some of your decisions will be wrong.
- Work on your flexibility.
- Learn to deal with uncertainty.
- Realize there is not a defined plan you need to follow.
- Be confident in yourself and your abilities.
- Listen to your voice.
- Listen to advice.
My advice: lean into the inexactness of the situation, trust your instinct, be true to yourself (professionally or personally) and watch for the beautiful unexpected.
p
Love it Philippa!