The inspiration for today’s post came from a most unlikely place.
Li Shang Long is a young Chinese writer and director who has written a book, titled “Bye Stability, Morning My Life.” (This is the English translation).
In it, Shang Long (that\’s his given name) appeals to younger people to take advantage of their youth.
He encourages them to chase their dreams, take calculated risks and relish new challenges, instead of ‘playing it safe’ and languishing in a stable job or sticking to what they know and feel comfortable with. Shang Long argues that young people should tackle their fears head on as this is the best way to grow as individuals.
I’ll come back to Li Shang Long in a moment but first let me first share some context.
More than ever
A few days ago my son, Casey, and I were engaged in an emotive discussion about the precarious state of the world today. We’re both optimistic by nature but reluctantly had to admit that our world is characterised by more underlying fear and uncertainty than at any time in our collective memory.
Look back at our past history as a civilisation and you’ll see how successfully fear and uncertainty have been used by authoritarian interests to divide and control people to achieve specific agendas.
Connecting the dots
Sadly, for those who take the time and trouble to connect the dots, the conclusion may be reached that modern civilisation is no different, even though the identity and methods of those pulling the strings is more obscure.
The worldwide attacks on civil liberties that we are currently witnessing are unprecedented. That bastion of democracy and free society, the right to personal choice, is rapidly being eroded by powers who claim that it is acceptable to compromise personal choice to serve the ‘broader interest’.
People crave stability
In times of great fear and uncertainty, people crave stability. Authoritarians play to this by providing assurances that the quickest route back to stability lies in accepting the draconian restrictions on civil liberties that they put in place to \’protect the common interest\’.
Those who believe the argument that the restrictions are temporary measures, in the interests of the greater good, become pitted against those who see them as the thin end of the wedge and the beginning of an increasingly authoritarian ‘new normal’.
A potent weapon
Division is a potent weapon for those with a hidden motive of control. A climate of uncertainty and fear is a perfect breeding ground for intolerance.
Those who claim to act in the broader interest are quick to assign labels to the dissenters. The dissenters, in turn, fight to get their voices heard above the noise. Both groups grow increasingly frustrated to the point of lambasting and ridiculing one another.
Let’s jump back to our Chinese friend, Li Shang Long.
A world turned on its head
Casey and I were trying to make our own sense out of how and why our world has been turned on its proverbial head over the last eighteen months.
We reflected on the great courage it takes for people with a view contrary to that held by the mainstream, to stand up for what they believe in. As we did so, our conversation turned to the parallels that exist in the field of personal development.
A student of Mandarin
Casey, who is a passionate student of the Mandarin language, told me about the latest book he is reading, by Li Shang Long.
The key message Shang Long gives to the youth of today is to live life to the full by foregoing the pursuit of that elusive concept of stability and, instead, embracing all the risks and uncertainty that life has to offer.
Casey and I chuckled over the irony that such a profound message could emanate from someone in one of the most autocratic countries on earth!
Resonance with core principles in life coaching
After reading a brief summary of Shang Long\’s work, I couldn’t help thinking about how his key message resonated with some of the core principles we espouse in life coaching:
- If you want true inner peace, make a habit of following your inner voice, not the siren voices of the external world.
- Take full, personal responsibility for your life. Never relinquish control of your life to others as that is the path to mediocrity, frustration and resentment.
- Stop deferring to the so-called experts. You are the only true expert when it comes to your life and how to live it.
- Tackle every problem that you face as if it were an opportunity for growth and development.
- Be prepared to take a stand for what you believe in. That said …
- Keep an open mind and practice tolerance for and acceptance of different opinions and perspectives.
- Be mindful of the difference between proven facts and beliefs. No matter how strongly held convictions are, they are still just that, convictions.
- Above all, embrace your inner power, accept external uncertainty and live your life to the full without fear.
Thank you for reading this post.
May you live without fear and see uncertainty in a whole new light!
A wonderful reminder ?
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Thanks for another illuminating and helpful blog, Bill. Like you and your son Casey, I too have reflected on these crazy times and had conversations with those in my family/friendship circles. I often also use poetry to express my thoughts and feelings, like this one “Ride the Wind” that resonates with sentiments in your blog. Here are the final few verses from the poem:
These are uncertain times;
It will not serve us well to fight within,
Go deep inside and find that sacred balm;
Ride the wind;
Rest in the unpredictability of it all,
Reconnect to essential being and centred calm;
Trust, o trust, the currents of this changing tide,
Awaken to the gifts of silence and repose,
Stay open, curious and attuned to grace;
Ride the Wind;
Rediscover Spirit’s all-embracing and compassionate care,
Be re-ignited by the energy of Her smiling face!
© Roger Arendse 20200319
That’s talent for you.
Thanks for the great contribution Roger!
Thank you for these invaluable New Insights, Bill.
You’re most welcome Karen 🙂
Thank you.
I really appreciate this