Working in the “Calmly Active, Actively Calm” State

Today's working people are faced with a two-fold challenge: doing more in less time, while handling unexpected occurrences along the way. An apt metaphor for this kind of activity is the whitewater kayaker. Several paddling principles can well be adapted into our work and family lives.

1. Don’t push the river.
   
   The whitewater kayaker is not paddling to get anywhere; she lets the river take care of that. Let your day carry you along, realizing it has its own pace and agenda. Just paddle to stay afloat, and avoid obstructions.


2. Give up control and gain power.
   
   The world-class paddler has scouted the rapids, so she has an idea of the terrain, but once in the water no energy is wasted trying to control the flow. No paddling to go faster; rather a series of relaxed strategic dipping responses that keep the boat upright and pointed downstream.


3. Stay Audible-Ready.
   
   Holding to the planned route is not the point -- the river (i.e., your action plan) will take care of that; the process of maintaining balance and direction of one's boat are what occupy the mind. Being ready to change is part of living in a world of change. In football they call it being "audible ready." When the team comes out of the huddle with a certain play in mind, in lining up the quarterback might see that the play won't work because the opposing team has shifted. As he barks out the signals he calls a new play. Every player on the team is able to shift automatically to what that play calls for him to do.


4. Redefine the goal.
   
   Redefine achievement as conformance of actions to personal values, rather than by what gets done. Values (such as excellence or customer service or integrity) help in choosing what's important over what's merely urgent. When outward conditions shift, values anchors still hold.


5. Detach, and enjoy the journey.
   
   The work gets done, but the journey is what’s important. Satisfaction comes from being part of something that is happening fast, pitting one's skills and energies against the challenge of the current itself through moment-to-moment cooperation with it.

Many people are fighting their way down the river of their work day or week; consequently they're beat up by the journey. They react by paddling more furiously, trying for control at times when they haven't any.

It is this reacting mode, not the outward pace and circumstances, that stresses them. Instead of the mind being in the present moment, with what they are doing, it leaves and goes to the past (regrets) or to the future (worries and fears). Focus is lost, the mind is confused, darting about.

While in this reacting mode, the mind is incapable of truly creating, solving, managing appropriately or responding elegantly. When a change hits that throws the plan out of kilter, the person trying to hold onto the way things were feels victimized.

Change the way you look at things. You're making it all up anyway, by picking out what to notice; might as well like what you see. Reframing (shifting what you’re seeing with) is the new mind-elegance tool. By using the tool, you’re not thrown when you encounter unexpected river conditions. In the midst of the battle, it's useful to reconceptualize change and your role in it , as in:

• This change is just what is happening. I can calmly respond to the new situation by letting go of expectations. When I don't hold on to the way it was, and open my mind to the way it is, it's more fun.


• My moment is now. Right here is where all my experience is, all my power to make things happen, not some past or future time. Let me do the right thing NOW.


• My new role is change manager. That means paying attention in a new way, handling my own inner states in appropriate response to outer changes.


• I used to be in control; now I'm in power.

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