Navigating the Unknown
Ok, I have a confession to make, I don’t always know what I’m doing. In fact there are many parenting moments where I have no idea what to do next.
Here’s what I do know, navigating the unknown is a leadership skill.
Most people want certainty. As a parent you want to know your child is happy, is healthy, is capable, is successful, knows how to read and write and express their opinion. You want to know they have the skills to handle that kid in playground or an attack on social media. You want to know that what your doing today is going to work in their favour later in life. Set them up.
Yet, human life is riddled with big and little unknowns. A loss of job, a loss of a loved one, a bad investment that wipes out your finances, the end of a marriage. An injury or health issue. Will the bus be on time. Is it going to rain today. Will the movie be any good.
In fact we don’t know what’s in store for our children. We have no idea where or when they will run into a challenge. Will they be OK travelling home from school. We have no idea how they will perform in a test or a show. We have no idea what the state of the climate will be by the time they are young adults.
And what we experience in these moments of thinking about their future is vulnerability.
My son recently went for an audition for a performing arts high school. He comes alive when he’s on stage and when he came out of the audition he said to me “I nailed it” and he did. We got a letter a few weeks later to tell us that he was shortlisted for the school. He was elated. I was excited for him.
Only to find out two weeks later he didn’t get a place and is on a wait list. He is an energetic kid. He needs lots of ability to move. Movement and learning are his best combination because he is a kinesthetic learner. So this school ticked all the boxes for him.
But here we are. Not sure of the next best move for him. I’m sitting here in the vulnerability of not knowing what’s going to best for him. Not because he doesn’t have good alternate options, fortunately he does. But I want to do my best to honour his passion and maximise his chances of enjoying high school.
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing, it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome” Brene Brown
I find in these moments, hope and trust help me. Hope that whatever is meant for him will unfold and trust that he and I have the ability to navigate what comes our way.
Navigating the unknown is directly proportional to our ability to be OK with vulnerability.
What supports you in those times of vulnerability? How do you navigate the unknown?
