Learning to Surf the Waves

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, has said:

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. 🏄🏼‍♀️

The waves have been good this week!

The markets were down, the markets were up, the tariffs were implemented, the tariffs were paused. 

During weeks like this one, we have a great opportunity to practice our surfing skills –or, if we are taking a page from Expansive Impact, to Be Creative and Lead with Agility. 

In doing so, we might consider a middle path –a path between “pivoting and adjusting and changing plans as needed” and “sticking to what works, taking the long view, and focusing on what we can control. 

This offers us an opportunity to be light on our feet while also staying connected to the long view; our core purpose; and what is tried and true. 

For many of our clients, this means taking external circumstances into account, while also leaning into what they know has worked for years and in some cases decades.

It means being aware without being knocked off course.

And, sometimes it means pausing for just a moment to breathe, think, and in the case of this week, wait for the tariffs to be paused.

What about you?

 How are you practicing surfing at this time of epic waves? 

Reflection Questions

• What is one big wave that is currently headed my way?

• What is one opportunity I have for surfing at this moment?

• How can I empower and support my team to go surfing, as well?

• Do we have the right equipment for the current conditions?