The key to the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim is reversal. The elaborate story traditionally read for the holiday hinges on role reversals, dramatic shifts in narrative, new directions, and upheavals.
In our world and work, we are all too familiar with this sort of instability.
Not only are we living within geopolitical turmoil, but many of us are undergoing organizational shifts in structure and vision. Purim invites us to implement reversal intentionally— to harness its unsettling powers to make more possible.
What happens when we look at the world upside down?
Paradoxical as it may seem, holding firm to our values while remaining flexible in our responses allows us to respond thoughtfully in unsettling situations. This means knowing who we are, never mistaking ourselves for the roles we inhabit. Being attentive to our environment and ourselves allows us to recognize what’s needed amidst the topsy-turvy chaos.
How do we respond to the chaos of the moment with poise and precision?
Or, as we like to say at Ta’amod: what does now need?
As we center these lessons of Purim in the month ahead, we recognize that shifting perspective is not a solitary act. In other words, arriving at what now needs means arriving together. We can’t navigate the upside-down alone; by staying nimble and grounded, we become present in uncertainty together.
