The Key to Thriving in the Era of Uncertainty: Rest
- B. J. Choi
- Apr 16
- 2 min read
In the era of uncertainty, true leadership begins with a posture of rest—turning fear into clarity and crisis into opportunity.
Key Insights
We are living in an unanchored world order—a time of historic geopolitical and economic transition that demands more than traditional resilience.
Fear of uncertainty is rooted in our desire for control, but leaders must learn to release what they cannot control and anchor themselves in rest.
Self-control flows from rest, not from striving—and rest is a powerful leadership posture that brings clarity, discernment, and inner strength.
Leaders who embrace rest rise above the storm like eagles—turning crisis into opportunity and navigating chaos with confidence and peace.
The fear of uncertainty has swept across the world like a storm. The once-predictable global order—shaped by 20th-century economic and geopolitical foundations—has been deeply shaken, especially since the tariff wars that began during the Trump administration. We are no longer in the world we once knew.
George Friedman, a leading geopolitical strategist, describes it plainly: “We have entered into an unanchored world order, a state in which one geopolitical era transitions to the next.”
We have entered the era of uncertainty—and for today’s leaders, this moment calls for more than resilience, clarity, and courage—it calls for a new kind of posture: rest.
The Paralyzing Power of Fear
As human beings, we naturally respond to uncertainty with fear. When life feels out of control, fear rises. And fear—if left unchecked—paralyzes us from head to toe. It affects our decision-making, clouds our thinking, weakens our leadership presence, and even takes a toll on our physical wellbeing.
But here’s the truth: the fear of uncertainty isn’t just about external conditions—it’s rooted in something deeper: our desire to control what we cannot.
Letting Go to Take Control
To overcome the fear of uncertainty, we must confront our control issues head-on. In times of global disruption and organizational shaking, much of what surrounds us lies beyond our influence. Markets shift, alliances dissolve, crises emerge. These are not things we can fix or force.
But there is one thing leaders can always control: their heart—how they choose to respond.
This is where self-control becomes essential—not as a rigid discipline, but as a posture of the heart. And this self-control does not come from strain or striving, but from a place of rest.
Rest: The Posture that Elevates
Rest is not the absence of action. It is not about disengaging. It is about being anchored, even when everything around you shifts.
Leaders must learn to rest—not later, but now, in the midst of shaking.
Picture an eagle soaring through a storm. It doesn’t flail. It doesn’t flee. It leans into the wind, ascending with ease rather than resistance.
In the same way, leaders who learn the posture of rest can rise above the storm—navigating turbulence with a different kind of strength.
In Rest, Crisis Becomes Opportunity
Rest positions leaders to turn crisis into opportunity. It grounds them in clarity, sharpens their discernment, and strengthens their teams.
Thriving in uncertainty doesn’t begin with control. It begins with surrender—an internal stillness that produces external wisdom.
"Be still, and know…"
Ancient words. Timeless wisdom.
