Navigating Uncharted Territories: A Journey Through Disruption, Reflection, and Action
Part I: Navigating the Storm — Embracing Disruption
“When you take the less-traveled road, you learn to live in uncertainty, understanding and accepting the complexity of life. You let go of the need to control what you can’t control, accept the cards that life is handing to you, and try to do your best under the circumstances that you are experiencing. You try, fall, rise, dust off your clothes, and continue your journey because now you are wiser than before.” — HB. How Do You Live In Dissonance?
Navigating the Storm
I was lost in thought, gazing out at the open sky through the plane’s window. I was immersed in how the morning sun played with the clouds and the open sea when I thought, “It´s time.” Then, I took our wedding rings out of my pocket, put my wife’s on her finger, and gave mine to her to do the same while I kissed her.
Putting a ring on my beloved wife´s finger after 40 years of marriage was more than symbolic. They had been in a drawer for more than five years since a thug tried to kill me to get it from me in one of the most violent cities in the world, Caracas.
We were flying out of Venezuela for good, carrying our future in our dreams and our possessions in four suitcases. I was feeling like Tevye. In the final scene of Fiddler on the Roof, he pulls his cart with all their possessions and walks away with his wife and daughters while a fiddler plays his instrument in the background.
It was a massive exercise of letting go of our home, possessions, and lifestyle. Most of all, we will miss the warm bond with our friends and the beautiful view of Avila Mountain from our terrace, where we watched the shades of green evolve throughout the year.
Leaving our homeland was a profound disruption for my wife and me. It was characterized by the inevitability of the sudden change and the loss of familiar surroundings, which had profound personal and social ramifications. We lost not just physical possessions but also our social networks and the deeply ingrained sense of identity tied to being a Venezuelan.
Upon our arrival in Montreal, we faced many uncertainties, including navigating a new culture, language, social structures, and professional landscape, where our future was unknown, and many factors were beyond our control.
Therefore, I had to choose between two evils. It was time to let go because the country’s worsening toxicity over time led me to experience acute levels of anxiety that threatened my well-being.
The Journey
“There comes a time when
it is necessary to abandon the
worn clothes that already have
the shape of our body.To forget the roads that
always take us to the same
places. It is time for the
journey.If we don’t dare to undertake it,
we will have stayed forever
apart from ourselves.”— Fernando Pessoa. Portuguese poet.
Embracing Disruption
Despite everything, I feel confident because I carry my wisdom and experience. I have completed a long journey during which I learned valuable lessons about leadership, personal transformation, and navigating challenges within complex systems. These experiences became my most outstanding teachers and possessions, providing me with deeper insights and a profound understanding of life under challenging circumstances. This disruption is a catalyst for applying my hard-earned wisdom to concrete projects in my new home.
I have developed a philosophy of empowerment that often guides my actions after periods of significant disruption and reflection. This philosophy encompasses the core beliefs and principles that inform my current work, enabling me to facilitate positive change in myself and others.
These guiding principles, which emphasize resilience, a growth-oriented mindset, the importance of reflection and presence, the life-giving nurturing of human connections, and the cultivation of personal agency, are deeply rooted in my experiences and the lessons I have learned from them.
I am excited to live in these unique times and want to share this wisdom to empower others through the Wisdom-Centered Leadership Program. Forged in the crucible of disruption and uncertainty, this program guides, inspires, and nurtures learning in highly collaborative cultures where individuals feel supported and capable of navigating their challenges through creativity and innovation, empowering them to thrive in today’s volatile and complex environment.
This three-part series of articles will give you a perspective on the program’s inception, purpose, and content.
Next week, I will publish Part Two: Presencing: Finding Wisdom in a Trial by Fire Journey
My name is Helio Borges. Through coaching, courses, and consulting, I empower professionals and entrepreneurs to ignite creativity and innovation, prevent burnout, and nurture resilience. I reside in Montreal, Canada, and consult in person or via Zoom in English and Spanish.
For half an hour free consulting session, contact me at:
Helio Borges. Montreal, Qc. Canada. WhatsApp: +58 (414) 328–7997. Mail: hborgesg@gmail.com
My gift to you: I wrote this prompt on Chat GPT to create the image above. You can copy and paste it or experiment modifying it as you will:
Navigating the Storm — Embracing Disruption:
Imagine a powerful and evocative image depicting a lone ship battling a turbulent sea. The waves should be high and dramatic, perhaps with dark, swirling clouds overhead, suggesting a storm. However, the ship itself should appear sturdy and resilient, with its sails catching the wind, indicating forward movement despite the chaos. The lighting could be dramatic, with shafts of light breaking through the clouds, hinting at hope amidst the turmoil.
Details to include:
- The Ship: A classic sailing vessel, perhaps slightly weathered, symbolizing experience and endurance.
- The Sea: Dark, choppy waters with whitecaps, conveying the feeling of being overwhelmed by events.
- The Sky: A mix of dark, ominous clouds and patches of brighter sky, representing the uncertainty and potential for change.
- The Ship’s Direction: The ship should be clearly moving forward, suggesting a proactive approach to the disruption rather than being tossed around helplessly.
- Optional Elements: A distant lighthouse could symbolize hope and guidance, or birds flying above the storm could represent resilience and the ability to rise above challenges.
The overall feeling should be one of facing significant challenges head-on with courage and a sense of purpose, acknowledging the difficulty but emphasizing the journey forward.
