Beauty in the Amorphous

Quantifying qualitative data is a phenomenon that took the world of research by quite a storm. There have been theories and volumes written on how to attribute numbers to records of data collected in prose so that they can be treated similar to quantitative data. Though I am a doting adherent of the essence of quantification in data analysis, the approach throws a blinding light on our discomfort with vagueness.

For most of us ‘spelled’ is the way to go. Abstract leaves a sense of restlessness that can only be put to rest with a sedative dose of concrete. One of the required competencies for a successful manager based on a study I read in business school was eloquently called ‘tolerance of ambiguity’. This tolerance is surprisingly absent in most of us. Anything that is beyond regular is endured only as a transitional spell and ways are explored to turn it into known. ‘Normal’ brings the warmth of security with it, knowing what to expect brings the assurance of safety with it, but unfortunately the pay offs are in guise of boredom and unoriginality.

One of the most intriguing observations in individuals pursuing their fitness goals is an irrepressible necessity to follow the traditional path of movement aka cardio and resistance aka weights training which also is the sole reason for the phasing out of a fitness program which was impinged upon with much ado – because it gets mundane. The instinct to follow this routine stems from the publicized belief that this is the tried and tested way to go. The only way to prevent the engine from loosing its steam is to spice up the routine by giving membership to innovative techniques like Pilates, dancing, and yoga in the defined workout. But for this to be successful one needs to be comfortable with the ambiguity of the immediate visible results of these relatively newer techniques. If we learn to accept the quintessence that is nebulous here, the outcomes would far outweigh our goals.

Osho in his ‘Book of Understanding’ while talking of Science and Religion defines the rare quality of ‘doubt’ in individuals. He shuns the idea of ‘belief’ and declares that belief cannot take you into any form of inquiry, either internal as in spirituality or external as in science. Belief or disbelief, which is belief just standing on its head, is like the dead end making one accept that beyond this there is nowhere to go. Holding onto a belief, generally passed on by others is an exhibition of our instinct to grab onto the tangible. But if for a moment we let go of this anchor, imagine the vast possibilities that instantly unfurl. If the only thing we keep the faith in is ourselves, and hold back the urge to concretize everything that touches us, the no-bounds beauty of the amorphous would smitten us like nothing before.