13 Feb Vertical Development
We live in a VUCA world. Volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. We are in the middle of constant change and the speed of that change is constantly accelerating. In response we develop new skills, attain new knowledge and seek to further our experience. Skills, knowledge and experience are all very important but they only constitute horizontal development. We are either unaware of or neglect to work on our vertical development.
Vertical development involves growth in our level of consciousness and awareness and is at the heart of why we practise Yoga.
Imagine Julius Ceaser at the prime of his abilities as a general. He has plenty of skill, experience and knowledge of tactics and formations.
Imagine if we place him on the ground amongst his troops in the middle of the battle. He will be unable to see any further than a few feet around him and will only be able to command the soldiers standing next to him. If he gets on a horse then his situation improves. He may now be able to see a 100 feet or so around him and be able to control a small part of the battlefield.
Ideally, he would want to ride the horse up a nearby hill where he would have a panoramic view of the entire battlefield. From this position he could see his entire army and all of the enemy. He will now be aware of events on the entire battlefield instead of just a small portion of it.
He can now make full use of all his experience, all of his knowledge of military tactics and the skill he has developed over the years of being a general. He is now much more formidable yet his skills, knowledge and experience have not changed, only his awareness has.
In the same way as we develop vertically our level of consciousness is raised and our awareness expands allowing us to make better use of our skills, knowledge and experience.
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