I read Enuma Okora's column in the FT this week (behind the FT Paywall). One paragraph stopped me:

"I have a friend who, whenever I ask how he's doing, takes a moment before answering. Often he'll then express two seemingly conflicting feelings. 'A part of me is feeling grounded and engaged but another part of me is also feeling anxious because I'm concerned about [xyz].' I've grown to admire his willingness to sit with multiple realities, and even to begin practising it myself."

That willingness to hold contradictions, to say "both things are true" without rushing to resolve them, is rare. We aren’t always comfortable with it. We would much prefer coherence.

Some ten years ago I wrote a short post about the tension between Urgent and Important. I was then Chair of Trustees at Bridge Support, and I framed my role as encouraging the Executive Team to stay focused on the Important - the strategic work that could all too easily be displaced by firefighting.

My perspective has shifted.