Uncertainty is Inherent

Uncertainty defines modern life. Once, pensions and safety nets offered a sense of security in a world where people lived shorter lives and communities were smaller and more predictable. Today, we step into the workforce armed with hope intertwined with anxiety. Questions hover in our minds: Did I choose the right career? Will my industry survive the next decade or even the next five years? The world feels less like solid ground beneath us and more like shifting sands—uncharted and unpredictable.

So much of our lives, it turns out, is determined by decisions we make without the influence of perspective. We stumble into choices guided by parents, whose own perspectives are often constrained, or by overburdened school counselors striving to help in an underfunded system. In the end, we must muddle our way through, trusting in the fact that no life is a linear experience, and come out the other side with something we can take to the bank and that will hopefully allow us to fulfill our calling in life, at least in some small way that doesn't feel like too much of an afterthought.

Is our time truly more uncertain than any other? It's impossible to say. Those who claim to know the past speak from history—a narrow lens written by the victorious or the loudest. History forgets the quiet struggle of the individual, the fears and losses of those who lived ordinary lives. It's a flawed, selective record. Perhaps uncertainty has always been our companion. What is unique today is the velocity. The world moves faster now—change accelerates, and with it, the anxiety of keeping pace. We are carried along in this relentless rush, without pause, without ritual.

The Sacred and the Profane in Modern Times

In "The Sacred and the Profane" (Published in 1957), historian Mircea Eliade describes how traditional societies found meaning by distinguishing between sacred and profane spaces—the sacred, imbued with ritual, symbolism, and the divine, provided structure and purpose. By contrast, the profane represented life's mundane and chaotic aspects. Through sacred rituals, people anchored themselves amidst uncertainty, giving life depth and direction.

Our rapidly shifting world has stripped away many of the rituals that once anchored us, leaving us adrift in the mundane. Society pushes us toward mediocrity, telling us to temper our dreams to fit the mold. To be accepted, we are taught to keep our expectations modest. The Australians call it "tall poppy syndrome"—the tallest poppy is always the first to be cut down. The message is clear: you can strive for greatness, but only if you master the unspoken rules, and even then, be careful not to stand out too much.

For many of us, the rules are unfathomable; the game feels rigged from the outset. This sentiment is becoming more widespread and inclusive. Young men, older men, and those caught between eras—all who see the value in sharing the stage with women—are seeking new forms of direction beyond the limits of a patriarchal Western canon. Women, formerly expected to carry all the weight of nurturing but now learning to share the burden, are learning to navigate this landscape, unsure of how to seek the help we need, trying to break free from roles that are only now beginning to crack under the pressure of change (with no small amount of resistance from navel-gazers and status quo maintainers of both biological genders). And our children, caught in this web of uncertainty, look to each other for guidance because they sense our hesitation and confusion. They inherit a world where traditional pathways no longer guarantee success or satisfaction.

This realization, while daunting, also presents a unique opportunity. It beckons us to redefine success on our terms and find fulfillment in job security, purpose, and passion. This reality offers an invitation to return to the sacred and to reframe the profane. Devoid of inspiration and creativity, many routine tasks in many jobs are already replaced by technology; AI is expediting the offramp for tedium whether we desire it or fear it. As the late great Charlie Munger said, "Mimicking the herd invites regression to the mean."

Reclaiming the Sacred in Our Professional Lives

Many times throughout history have been marked by technological expansion. From the automation of Dutch looms to the industrialization of farming, there are always upsides and downsides to innovation. Today, the unprecedented democratization of information—and its counterparts, misinformation and disinformation—exemplifies this dual edge. The proliferation of information empowers a broader swath of humanity with knowledge that was once the purview of the few, fostering a globally informed community. This abundance necessitates skilled curation, presenting new entrepreneurial opportunities. Knowledge now travels at the speed of light, accessible to all, fundamentally transforming how we learn and share.

Accompanying the availability of skills-based knowledge, knowledge of the mind and the psyche is exploding onto the scene like spores from an erupting cordyceps mushroom. If you choose to do so, you can tap into the realm of your awareness via almost any medium, be it podcasts, audiobooks, YouTube, or the analog staple— books.

Accessible and abundant, research into the mind is available to those inside and outside institutional walls. As the field of mycology is comprised mainly of amateur mycologists whose contributions are valued alongside those of PhDs in the field, self-taught thought leaders empower millions of others to live their best lives and discover the sacred Self within.

The sacred Self will always remind us that more of life is available to us when we are ready to expand into the space of potential. Whether you prescribe to a religious doctrine or have no room for faith in your life, your composition is the same. Potential exists in the space before you, all you have to do is decide to realize it.

The profane in our modern world is the wasting of potential; it is the apathy, the disillusionment, the seeking of direction from false prophets and confidence-men; the profane is as human as the sacred; when we choose movement over fixity, momentum over stasis, expansion before contraction, we lean into trusting our sacred Self— trusting in our capacity to grow and transform.

The Profanity of the Predictable Path

As we step into the world—be it freshly graduated or weathered by years in our trades—we find ourselves at a crossroads between the sacred and the profane. The sacred calls us to seek paths that fulfill our material needs and resonate with our more profound sense of purpose and passion.

The profane manifests in the stagnation of unchallenged potential, in surrendering to the disillusionment from unfulfilling work and unmet dreams. It is found in the acceptance of apathy and in the hesitance to step beyond the conventional paths laid out before us.

Whether you are a bright young mind standing ready to embark upon your life from the launchpad of university or your childhood home or a seasoned sailor of the corporate tides and all the tumult their rise and fall can bring, this time is for the seekers.

Seek within yourself through gentle inquiry and understanding; once you are brave enough to begin, this journey will last your lifetime.

Look deeply at your work, where you spend the lion's share of your years. While no job is perfect, by knowing yourself more wholly, you will come to know what lights you up and what dulls your spark.

Listen to the truth your sacred Self reveals; let it guide you even when you don't think you have the strength to change.

Knowing your inner values and your passions will align you to opportunities that match your gifts and thus will empower you to work in a way that is beyond "just a job." We must spend time learning our craft and honing our talent if we can find a suitable place to do so. I think we lost something with the death of the apprenticeship model of yore that is worth revisiting.

The Sacred Seeker: Finding Your Path

To become an accomplished person in any field, the best way to gain the necessary skills beyond formal education is to work beside a master of her domain. Choose carefully a leader you would not mind emulating, both in character and competency; nothing is worse than contorting yourself into people-pleasing knots to appease a tyrant.

In the professional domain, mentors are a simple DM on LinkedIn away. Most of the time, we appreciate being asked to share our wisdom, and when we cannot, we aren't afraid to politely decline. Don't take rejection personally if you can help it; your life will be much less tumultuous when you learn that it is never personal, even when it is, and especially then. Other people are trudging through their lives at their own pace, which well may be a pace much delayed in emotional maturity; don't look backward to accommodate these people.

If you are well healed and seeking alternate routes for the next chapter of your living memoir, your life, I will suggest a different course that requires you to place faith in the sacred knowledge accumulated through your years: the path of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship as Ritual

Warren Buffett's philosophy, suggesting that a few years of hard labor on one's own venture can be vastly more rewarding than a lifetime spent building someone else's, encapsulates the essence of entrepreneurial spirit. It's about taking charge of your narrative and believing that you can be the architect of your destiny. This mindset is particularly vital as we stand at the crossroads of a rapidly evolving workplace, where traditional roles are continuously being redefined by technology and global shifts.

Consider your current job or any job as an apprenticeship for running your own show. Each task and challenge is a lesson in disguise, providing insights into leadership, problem-solving, and innovation. When viewed through the lens of learning and growth, these roles prepare you for the greater responsibility of entrepreneurship, where the stakes are yours to set, and the rewards are yours to reap.

Whether stepping out into the world or seeking a renewed purpose in your endeavors, remember that the sacred lies in pursuing work that ignites your spirit and fulfills your potential. Do not shy away from the profane aspects—the hard work, the uncertainty, the learning curve—these experiences will mold you into a leader, an innovator, and a trailblazer. The world needs empowered leaders from diverse backgrounds, generations, genders, and abilities. The problems of tomorrow will be solved by the leaders forged today.

That is it for this week, my friends; please stay safe and be kind to yourself and someone else, too. We all need the encouragement right now.

Until next week — Your faithful writer, Sonia a.k.a. SuperSonic

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