Embracing the Unknown: A Journey of Experimental Faith
I love this quote from Rick Rubin:
“When we sit down to work, remember the outcome is out of our control. If we are willing to take each step into the unknown with grit and determination, carrying with us all of our collected knowledge, we will ultimately get to where we’re going. The destination may not be one we’ve chosen in advance. It will likely be more interesting.”
This idea of “experimental faith” profoundly resonates with me. It’s not about unquestioning optimism or expecting miracles. It’s about trusting the process, even when the path is unclear. It’s about courageously stepping into the unknown, armed with our experience and knowledge, and allowing the journey to unfold organically.
My Journey with Experimental Faith
I’ve experienced the power of experimental faith firsthand throughout my career. In my early days as a leader, I was weeks into a project with no clear solution. It was terrifying, especially given the tight deadlines. But I noticed that the seasoned leaders and managers remained calm. They trusted that a breakthrough would emerge, and it always did.
Years later, I encountered a similar pattern when I focused on my writing. With every project, there came a point when I felt utterly lost. The blank page loomed, and the uncertainty reared its ugly head. But again, I learned to trust the process. I kept writing and exploring, and eventually, the path would reveal itself.
Faith Borne Out of Practice
My friend once described faith as “making it up as nobody knows the difference anyway.”
But really faith is confidence borne from practice.” The more I practiced my craft, whether consulting or writing, the more faith I developed in myself and the process. This wasn’t ‘making it up’ or ‘blind faith’ but faith grounded in experience and the knowledge that I could rely on my skills and intuition to guide me even when things seemed uncertain.
Rick Rubin’s Wisdom
Rick Rubin echoes this sentiment in his book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being. He emphasizes that experimental faith is not about expecting miracles but honing our ability to do the work and adjust as we go. It’s about embracing the unknown, trusting our instincts, and allowing the creative process to lead us to unexpected and often more interesting destinations.
This philosophy has been a guiding principle throughout my career.
But I probably couldn’t have named it. So thank you, Rick Rubin, for naming what allowed me to embrace challenges, navigate uncertainty, and ultimately achieve outcomes that I never could have imagined.
Rubin, R. (2023). The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Penguin Press.