Hey Collective Crew, Shaun here. In a world that sometimes feels like it’s spinning off its axis, how do we find and maintain our stability? On this week’s The Gold Mine, former CANSOFCOM operator and business leader Arjun Grewal joined Chance and me for a deep dive into “Stability in a spinning world.” The conversation explored the very nature of stability, questioning whether it’s a static state to be achieved or a dynamic process of continuous adaptation, all while navigating the internal and external forces that threaten to throw us off balance.
This Week’s Anchor:
– Arjun Grewal: 20-year CAF veteran, entrepreneur, and CEO of Ventus Respiratory Technologies, bringing a wealth of experience from high-stakes military and business environments.
Key Insights from Our Stability Discussion:
1. Stability as an Illusion – Flow as the Reality
Arjun kicked off the conversation with a powerful reframe: “I don’t think there is such a thing as stability. It’s about flow and it’s about moving forward.” This set the tone that stability isn’t about finding a fixed, immovable point, but about skillfully navigating the inevitable changes and challenges life presents.
2. The Pottery Wheel – Managing the Spin
We used the metaphor of a potter’s wheel. Our life is the clay at the center. To create anything, velocity is required, but too much uncontrolled speed will send the clay flying. The art is in applying carefully controlled momentum to shape the clay beautifully. Sometimes, learning requires letting the clay “splat against the wall” to understand your limits.
3. The Mission as the Anchor
Arjun synthesized these ideas, emphasizing that a clear mission is the anchor that allows us to manage the spin. “What do you want that clay to be at the end of the day?” he asked. Knowing your end-state, your “why,” provides the baseline you can always return to amidst the noise and mission creep.
4. Natural vs. Unnatural Life & The Three Primal Drives
Arjun introduced a fascinating paradigm, suggesting that civilian life is “natural,” allowing for mistakes and organic learning, while the rigid structure of military life is, in some ways, “unnatural” due to its rigidity. This led to an exploration of the chameleon and the octopus – animals that adapt their appearance for two primary, instinctual reasons: to hunt and to protect themselves. We agreed that these primal drives are at the core of human adaptation as well; we are constantly “hunting” for our goals and protecting ourselves from threats. I then added the crucial third primal drive that governs all species: to procreate. In our modern, human context, this isn’t just about biological reproduction; it’s about extending our influence, sharing our wisdom, and contributing to the survivability and betterment of our species and community. Arjun affirmed this, noting that our adaptability is fueled by these three core drives, and the tools we gather through experience and conversation enhance our ability to navigate scenarios and fulfill these instinctual missions.
5. Deeds, Not Deed – Stability Forged Through Consistency
A subtle yet powerful distinction emerged when Chance questioned the nature of achievement, pointing out that the special operations motto ‘Facta Non Verba’ translates to Deeds, not Words—with ‘deeds’ being intentionally plural. This sparked a crucial realization: stability and mastery are not built on a single, heroic act, but on the consistent application of effort over time. I reflected that I’ve become so accustomed to this relentless pursuit that I’d almost forgotten the plural, because for me, a singular ‘deed’ is never the end-state. Arjun agreed this plural aspect is deeply meaningful. The conversation highlighted the difference between someone who takes a single course and claims a label, versus the individual who understands that true capability is the sum of countless deeds, creating a resilient foundation of experience that can withstand the spinning world.
6. Internal vs. External Battles
While we often focus on external chaos, I argued that the internal battle for stability is often a much deeper and more profound challenge. This isn’t just about managing external events, but about confronting the internal forces that can throw us off balance. Arjun echoed this, noting that his focus is on managing the internal turmoil to be effective externally. This highlights a crucial insight: true stability isn’t just about weathering the storms “out there,” but about cultivating a resilient and well-ordered inner world. It’s the consistent, often unseen, work on our internal state that provides the foundation to face any external challenge with genuine poise and clarity.
7. The Past – Emerging Wisdom vs. Detailed Memory
A video clip on the nature of time led to a discussion on how we relate to our past. I shared that due to TBI, I don’t dwell on the details of specific memories from past experiences as they are less clear now than they used to be. Instead, I focus on letting the wisdom from those experiences bubble up to inform the present moment.
Final Thought: Stability is a Verb, Not a Noun
Stability isn’t a destination you arrive at; it’s a dynamic skill you practice daily. It’s the conscious act of anchoring yourself to a clear mission, skillfully managing the velocity of your life, learning from your past without being trapped by it, and consistently choosing the actions that move you forward with purpose and flow, even as the world continues to spin.
How are you practicing stability today?
Listen to the full “Stability in a spinning world” discussion here: Stability In A Spinning World
Stay centered,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
