Reach out to the greatness within you

Have you taken stock of how your life is panning out lately? What does it look like? Is it characterised by anxiety, stress, lack of abundance and loneliness? Do you often feel out of control? You are not alone. These feelings are part of a larger worldwide wave  termed VUCA. V - Volatility, U -Unpredictability, C - Complexity and A - Ambiguity. The term was coined by the US Army when it invaded Afghanistan in the 80’s.

Since then, the Harvard Business School has used it to define many events and now the EU has started using it on account of  the economic crisis, refugee intake and ISIS uprisings. Though the events are happening elsewhere, Kenyans can also relate to this state.

Here is how VUCA shows up in each of our lives.

Every morning, we wake up and each one of us has the same daily ritual and routine, day in and day out. The morning is spent getting ready for work, fighting traffic, getting to work. At work, it is a busy day meeting deadlines, answering hundreds of calls—some frustrating, chasing payments and managing inefficient staff. After a tedious day, we head home, feeling tired and unfulfilled.

Meanwhile, you are not really in touch with your feelings and what is building up within you.

Day after day, the routine remains the same, and we learn to push and shelve our feelings because another morning is here and we have to start all over again. Without realising it, we create patterns in our lives that keep us in a vicious cycle. Like a machine, our lives are on automatic run. Emotions take a back seat. Unfortunately, when these are not given space to process themselves, they ultimately become volatile.

Then we go about our daily lives, completely ignorant of why our lives are becoming a struggle yet the Sunday church sermon talks about greatness within us and the world at our feet. We all have dreams. Some of us are aware of them while others have not had the time to contemplate what their dreams are. We are so caught up in trying to survive and keeping it all together that the magic of life eludes us altogether.

How can we stop this vicious cycle and live from a brand new context? Instead of anxiety, stress, struggle, loneliness and hardships,  how can we exploit our greatness? 

For those who are unable to clearly see what is not working for them—whether it is tensions with the boss or not feeling appreciated at work or a relationship gone sour; pin it down by sitting in silence and digging through your feelings. Ask yourself: “What is really bothering me?” Write down the answer, honestly. Label the feelings that correspond to that problem. It could be that you are feeling resentful, angry and bitter.

With each feeling you identify, you are getting deeper into your emotional layers. After you have got to the source of your problem, ask yourself, how can I turn this around? Feeling like it is the other person’s fault is having no power over the situation. Yet it impacts your daily life. It is in your best interest to take responsibility for the current problem. Being 100 per cent responsible for the situation will make you powerful.

Joseph Campbell, an American philosopher and mythologist, said, “When we are in integrity to our call, doors will open where there were none.”

So make sure you call the person, set a time aside for undelivered communication. Be open to hearing what that person has to say. Once you are ready to take on their feedback, that person will also be open to hearing you out. You can meet half way and find a solution.

With each step taken towards clearing up the negativity in your life, you are stepping into a new context. You are creating power and momentum. From a life of volatility, chaos, unpredictability and struggle, life now moves to inspiration, enthusiasm and purpose. You have stepped into the sphere of greatness. 

Sippy Chadha is a life coach in Nairobi. [email protected]