After spending the majority of my spring and summer in the backcountry, I’ve had several encounters with nature that presented multiple themes, but none greater than the reality of interdependence.
Throughout my travels, I came across a dozen creatures that could easily kill me: timber rattlesnakes, black bears, blonde black bears (yeah they’re a thing in Glacier National Park) and grizzly bears. At each encounter, I was initially filled with horror and excitement as my body instantaneously prepared to do what it thought it had to do in order to survive. However, as I remained calm, I found myself transforming these emotions into rational-based decisions. That’s when I realized…I’m learning to live with my fear.
After being stared down by a bear and hearing the rattles of a timber rattlesnake, I was nearly overcome with an instinctive fear, but then I paused…I adapted…I survived. Fortunately in each of these situations, my rational brain calmed my emotions and trained my mind in what to do in order to survive with these apex hunters in their world. While watching and observing these incredible creatures up close and in the wild, I was reminded that each one of them plays an essential role and is dependent on each other and the surrounding elements of nature for survival.
Nature’s lesson of interdependence easily transitions to people and systems. Clearly, organizations rely on all individuals to accomplish the goal(s) of the organization. Likewise a society depends on individual people to function effectively. Humans are dependent on nature’s ecosystems for survival. Unfortunately many people haven’t learned to live with their own fear which is too often translated into acts of isolation, intolerance and violence.
My hope for upcoming leaders in any capacity is that they understand that there is no person who doesn’t have fear. The differences among us is all found in how we each approach and react to fear. Whether or not, you’re leading an organization, family or community, it’s important to resist the knee-jerk response fear and insecurity encourages. First pause and try to understand and recognize the role that the fear and the subject of your fear plays. After recognizing and conquering our fears through education and empathy, I believe more often than not, you’ll find that the impulse reaction isn’t the right choice.
Given the upcoming Independence Day Holiday, I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday. But as we celebrate our independence as a nation, I hope we’ll also be reminded to celebrate our interdependence among each other and the world in which we live. Together we can overcome our fears and achieve greater prosperity as individuals, communities, organizations living among nature.
