By: Kimberly Hardy, D.E.L, Doctorate of Executive Leadership, leader, scholar, and entrepreneur
“If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret.” – Jim Carrey
Uncertainty is inevitable. It is also incredibly uncomfortable and scary. When we must face the fear of uncertainty, doing so often causes conflict in ourselves that spills over into other areas of our lives. In those moments, we are forced to make hard decisions of sacrifice and faith. Strong leadership skills can help us lead through uncertainty and strengthen our spiritual well-being along the way.
It has been said that trauma accelerates thinking. But what does this mean? The phrase suggests that traumatic or disquieting events can provide deep and impactful insights on the human condition in a very short period of time. The way we respond to the trauma caused by conflict is completely up to us. In these critical moments, we can make decisions that can change our lives.
The process isn’t easy, however. We are constantly seeking ways to alleviate the pain that comes from uncertainty and conflict. Yet we must feel the pain to properly process the change happening within us. When we come to understand and accept this, we can move with purpose. It is what makes the difference between leading through uncertainty and stagnation.
The Science of Response
Wisely choosing our response to conflict is much easier said than done. It is not as simple as having a positive attitude. There are neurological processes that happen at the time we are triggered by conflict. The more self-aware we become of these processes, the more self-control we have over our responses. We may not be able to change our situation, but we can change our responses to it.
Practicing that begins with understanding the science behind response. According to Bryan E. Robinson’s Psychology Today article The 90 Second Rule That Builds Self Control, every reaction is a group of cells performing a specific function triggered by our emotions. When fear is activated by conflict, a threat is detected that stimulates a fight or flight response. At this moment, the hormone and neurotransmitter norepinephrine – better known as anger alertness – is released into the bloodstream in 90 seconds. It is perfectly normal to feel anger. The key is awareness and regulation of this process. We can enhance our awareness and regulate our response by practicing spirituality.
The Science of Spirituality
Contrary to popular opinion, spirituality is not religion. Many scientific definitions of spirituality exist but the research study “The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being” explains it as individual transcendence and an acute understanding of the greater good. The study notes that practice of spirituality “is not determined by rituals, institutions, or social relationships but by personal experiences and of what is unseen and greater than ourselves.” There have been numerous studies linking spirituality to well-being. This study points out that other positive outcomes have been documented associated with mental illness, quality of life, and coping skills. Specifically, the study confirmed that spirituality contributes positively to health-related behaviors. The research study “How Does Spiritual Intelligence Relate to Mental Health in a Western Sample?” revealed that “existential thinking and the production of meaning may be related to mental health.”
Uncertainty can be defined as a state of being unsure about the future – either from a lack of information or belief. Spirituality can help regulate feelings of uncertainty triggered by conflict that cause the 90-second rush of norepinephrine. However, uncertainty is not cured by blind faith. Navigating uncertainty is a skill that is strengthened by sensemaking (giving meaning to something), which can also be enhanced by spirituality. The ultimate goal is transcendence, which can be defined as surpassing your own limitations.
Sensemaking and Well-Being
As with spirituality, there are several scientific definitions of sensemaking. The research study “The Multifaceted Sensemaking Theory: A Systematic Literature Review and Content Analysis on Sensemaking” brings these definitions of sensemaking together saying, “basic characteristics involve the cognitive processes of acquisition, interpretation, understanding, and acting. Sensemaking is practiced through communication and through conversations, storytelling, and narratives.” It is described as an individual process grounded in social cognition used to solve complex problems that defy our current understanding or expectations of our environment. Furthermore, sensemaking is an action-oriented attempt at addressing significant ambiguity accomplished by “noticing or perceiving cues, creating interpretations, and taking action.”
Familiar triggers of uncertainty include unplanned environmental change, organizational dilemmas, individual or organizational threats to identity, and planned change initiatives. All of these events can impact our well-being. When our expectations are challenged, we may experience the 90-second norepinephrine rush until we’ve grounded ourselves in familiarity.
Steps to Strengthen Spiritual Well-Being through Uncertainty
Leading through uncertainty is a nonlinear journey. We are continuous works in progress in constant pursuit of underlying truths, generalized from our experiences that lead us in various directions in life. The most successful people are masters at leading through ambiguous circumstances because they recognize that uncertainty is an opportunity for personal and professional advancement. These steps are meant to help duplicate that sensemaking process, sharpen problem solving, and encourage mindful awareness in stressful moments of uncertainty:
- Feel the discomfort: Recognize that you are facing something you are unfamiliar with and give yourself grace to feel uncomfortable. The most successful people can admit when they don’t know something and feel at peace that it’s okay not to know. Normalizing discomfort is the quickest way to grow.
- Identify triggers: Pay attention to what triggers your 90-second norepinephrine rush and time it. Notice that every time you think of the conflict or issue, it restarts the clock.
- Identify patterns: Try to identify any patterns in what triggers these feelings and emotional responses. Uncover any parts of the conflict that feel familiar. This will help ground your actions to resolution.
- Identify sources: With this awareness, identify what the underlying conflict source is and ask yourself if you have any influence to change this conflict in any way. This will allow you to objectively look at the conflict and see if and how it can be resolved, or to uncover what part you’ve played in it. It may help to talk it out with a trusted mentor or mental health professional to recount the events and give meaning to circumstances.
- Do a U-Turn: Once you’ve stepped back far enough to do a U-turn and collected narratives that encourage understanding and meaning, you will be more confident to explore new courses of action that are grounded in familiarity.
- Analyze options: Start with what you have control over and work outward, keeping in mind how these options will impact others. When we are grounded, we make better, more informed decisions.
- Make a move: Now is the time for action to move forward!
- Recognize the transformation: Step into the new space and accept the transformation. Owning these decisions can be the most difficult step because others may not immediately accept your change. Yet, it’s important to do so.
The faster you are able to move through this process, the more opportunities for growth you will have.
Additional Resources
- The research study “Philosophical Analysis of the Issue of Spirituality”
- The research study “Leadership for Challenging Times: Lessons from the Past and Capabilities for the Future”
- The TED Talk YouTube video “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable”
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