The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

Certainty and control, tall with chiseled muscles, talk loud and long about their accomplishments. “I did this.”  “I caused that.” Everyone watches in conflicted wonder as they stride around. Is that what making life better looks like?

Uncertainty and influence seem scrawny by comparison and watch quietly from the back. Trying not to be noticed so they don’t get more sand kicked in their face by certainty and don’t once again get their lunch money stolen by control. While uncertainty and influence do their work in the margins, they aren’t alone. They are surrounded by the young: young children, young ideas, young dreams. Just born potential that hasn’t learned any words. They are also surrounded by the big - ideas and dreams that are too big for certainty and too complex for control.

Uncertainty and influence don’t stride around, but they aren’t idle either. They stoop to nurture, pause to encourage and are frequently engaged in cycles of reflection, discussion and exploration. They are not sure they are making life better, but they are encouraged to see many of the young grow and make new and beautiful contributions.  Happy when any of their offspring nudge the world toward greater levels of health.

The nudges of influence work in the space created by uncertainty.