Anyone in a busy job or busy life in the modern world knows what tension is. And too much feels terrible — right?
However I want to unpack how helpful tension is. It is a wonderful dynamic of life that draws us into change! Using tension well is an art. Tension is so misunderstood.
As tension builds its role plays out — in creating movement. It is a force that draws us towards change! So wait — you mean I should welcome tension?
Well yes.
Firstly tension is a sign of provocation. Of something that wants to move, or emerge, or be created, or listened to. All creative artists or copywriters know the tension you have to learn to carry around while working on a new creative piece. Writing ads and movie scripts in my 30s, I learnt to welcome a week or so of brewing with tension, wrestling ideas that were not fully birthed, changing directions in my mind, feeling the tension building — before I could get my fingers to the keyboard to write. And then it flowed fast, but the tension building was part of the process!
So tension became my friend, as a creative person creating.
Next, tension shows gaps — what isn’t working well, what we desire that isn’t manifest yet, what is dysfunctional or unwell. Tension points to the need for movement, expression or release.
So tension building is a sign of something wanting to release, or move, shift or change, end or be created.
You beginning to get this? Tension is an INDICATOR.
It is information. It is energy. It is a form of communication — from your body, your team, your client, your organisation or group field.
So once we can practice courage and take a good look at the message from tension, we can open to question and become curious about it.
What does this tension tell me?
Good questioning — of self, of the others involved, of the tension itself, which after all is just a messenger — unlocks energy.
And unlocking energy helps build the force of change — in your life or in your team or organisation. Tension is a key part of momentum, a dynamic that we all need in our lives to head towards change with vitality.
Momentum is something I am often helping clients to build in their lives and roles — so now we are becoming students of how energy works.
What do you do when you feel tension?
Try to dissipate it? Sedate or dispel it? Ignore or hide it?
Tension wants release (now don’t get dirty on me!), that is its path.
It is part of the movement of life and vital to change and to creating.
Improving our capacity to hold tension is part of the leader’s journey.
Of course, too much tension gets things stuck, so for me the art is learning to recognise its arrival, welcome the curious questioning, watch the path of the tension, and use the energy to create change and newness.
Getting stuck in tension, closed up, jammed up, unwilling to budge, not able to look for ways to use it creatively but getting locked up IN the tension, these are negative ways to be around tension. Too much build up of tension is where it gets unhealthy and why we have often such a negative idea of it. But actually to me tension is a beautiful gift, a vocal messenger. Just ask your body next time you feel too tense … how do I help move this energy along?
Because you WILL experience tension again — soon — next time perhaps just before you go on stage to present, or in a conversation with a colleague, or in the final phase of a big tendering process — see if you can befriend the tension.
Yes tension wants resolution. It is a vital part of creating and of transformation. More on that next time!