Celeb Shot
Embrace the Bardo: Befriending Uncertainty in 2025 and Beyond
Change Navigator, Author, and Adventurer April Rinne shares insights on how to see change and uncertainty differently, lean into the unknown, and build bridges in the process. A world — and future — in flux requires a different relationship to uncertainty.
Less than four months in, 2025 is providing plenty of flux: geopolitical, technological, economic, environmental, in our communities and workplaces, to name but a few. You’ve probably experienced some of these forces first-hand. Some things you thought would go one way went another, or didn’t happen at all. Other things weren’t even on your bingo card six months ago, yet are front and center now.
What’s more, we’re nowhere close to the finish line. Today, there are myriad finish lines, many of which are ever-shifting. This makes many humans uncomfortable, anxious, and often not-so-nice to be around.
Against this backdrop, the essential question to ask is not “When will this be over?” but rather: How do I (and my team, family, or community) get better at not merely recognizing these dynamics or complaining about them, but accept them for what they are — reality as-is, rather than what we wish it were — and direct our energy into productive action? Put another way, how do we learn how to befriend uncertainty and harness it for good?
For the past 20+ years, I’ve been immersed in all things “flux” from different perspectives: from cultures to business models to public policy. I have advised a wide range of companies, governments, and organizations worldwide on how to see change differently and improve their tolerance for the unknown.
Five years ago this month, the world was sliding into a global pandemic, the scope and magnitude of which no one really knew. At that time, I was in Asia on business, and then Europe, and my trip was cut short when the travel ban hit. Throughout these regions and experiences, I was deeply struck by how different cultures were approaching the uncertain and unknown. What questions did people ask? What precautions did they take? What words did they use to describe what they did not know — and how they felt about it?
Humans everywhere have learned a lot about uncertainty in the past five years, yet individually and collectively we remain remarkably inept at embracing it. We waste enormous amounts of invaluable time and energy “wishing it would just go away.” We build and lead organizations that champion innovation yet are wholly unprepared for the disruption that brings about, particularly among humans. How do we bridge these gaps, learn to transcend these frictions, and (hopefully) become more truly future-ready as a result?
While there is no one silver bullet for such a quest, one place I’ve found enormous insight and inspiration is in other cultures, and specifically new words and concepts that help expand how we communicate. In English, our vocabulary for change is remarkably limited. As a result, we struggle to find the right words, and the conversations we have bog down. But new words can help us see in new ways.
Enter the Bardo
One of my favorite words and concepts about change is the Bardo, which comes from Tibet. The bardo is the place of not-knowing, a liminal space between here and there. In Western cultures, where “not knowing” is seen as a mark of failure, the bardo would be generally feared or stigmatized.
And yet, in cultures of the bardo, it is revered. The bardo – this place of not-knowing – is considered sacred and powerful, because it is the place of transformation. In these cultures, uncertainty is the ultimate source of possibility and opportunity. Being in the bardo means you are one step closer to your full potential. One step closer to the truth. One step closer to the best result you can possibly imagine.
To be clear, the point is not to remain stuck in the bardo. It is to celebrate the power, potential, and wisdom of the in-between. It also means acknowledging that being comfortable not-knowing is how you learn to know.
To many people, the bardo may sound a bit woo. But in fact, it’s exactly the kind of wisdom we need today. Numerous surveys reveal the same thing: That comfort with uncertainty is a critical leadership skill needed, yet by and large, this is not how many leaders have been trained and we don’t practice this. How can we gain a new skill if we don’t practice?
You may not have grown up in a culture of the bardo, but you can practice this way of thinking, seeing, and relating to the unknown. The next time you are racked by uncertainty, channel that anxious energy into curiosity. Ask yourself: What is my invitation to transform? Try it on for size. See how this approach makes you feel. In my experience, people often feel a sense of calm and empowerment. It also helps them feel capable of embracing what they previously feared.
As the world shifts, expectations are flipped on their heads, and humans struggle to make sense of it all, we’ve never needed access to cultural wisdom more. It helps us see ourselves and one another in a kinder, more holistic light. It gives us new tools for sharper communications, deeper understanding, and better outcomes. The bardo can help show the way.
Events aren’t easy, but working with WSB is. WSB works with thousands of respected influencers, thought leaders, and speakers each year and our experienced sales team is committed to the success of your event. For more happiness speaker ideas, please contact us.