On Holding and Enduring – Self-Leadership in Times of Transition
It was a quiet Monday morning when I read an article that wouldn’t let me go. In the German newspaper WELT, cultural editor Lena Karger interviewed the Austrian philologist Pamela Rath about something that sounded simple on the surface — the art of enduring. But as I read on, I realized that what Rath calls “aushalten” — to hold, to endure, to stay present in uncertainty — is perhaps one of the most underestimated skills of our time.
She spoke of this moment in history as a Zeitenwende, a tipping point or historical shift. “The old system is leaving,” she said, “but the new one is not yet here.” That resonated deeply with me.
And I thought: Isn’t this exactly what many of us are feeling? A strange in-between. The need to keep going without a clear map. To stay open, while the ground beneath us shifts.
So in this post, I want to reflect on this art of enduring — and connect it with the ideas that I published in the podcast episode Self-Leadership and Mental Strength (https://bensmann-consulting.com/self-leadership-and-mental-strength/).
A Shifting World Needs Inner Anchors
Pamela Rath described something that’s become visible in my coaching sessions as well: People feel overwhelmed not by a single crisis, but by the simultaneity of multiple tensions — climate, war, AI, polarization.
We live in a time when multiple realities seem to exist at once. When our belief systems are questioned — or collide with those of others. When we’re tempted to react to everything, immediately.
Rath’s response is not to escape or deny this turbulence. She says that we must learn to endure again. But actively.
Meaning: Not as resignation. But as self-chosen focus, reduction, and awareness of our personal thresholds.
Self-Leadership Means Knowing What You’re Holding For
In my podcast episode Self-Leadership and Mental Strength, I spoke about the difference between gritting your teeth and staying aligned.
Mental strength is not about suppressing feelings or pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about finding the inner capacity to stay connected to your values — even when you’re tired, uncertain, or misunderstood.
This is where I believe self-leadership begins. Not in heroic action. But in subtle, repeated choices:
- To pause.
- To feel without collapsing.
- To wait without numbing.
- To think and act from the inside out.
The Seven Fields as a Compass for Mental Strength
Over the years, I’ve developed a framework that many of you already know — The Seven Fields of Self-Leadership. Each field offers an anchor. A space to experiment. To realign. Let me show you how the art of “enduring” connects to them:
1. Vision & Mission
→ If I don’t know what I’m holding for, endurance turns into exhaustion.
Take time to revisit your why. Define your values not as decoration — but as fuel.
2. Body, Soul & Mind
→ We cannot endure without tending to our system.
Sleep. Breath. Presence. Mental strength begins in the nervous system — not in willpower.
3. Competencies & Self-Development
→ Resilience grows when we grow. Learn in small steps. Stay curious.
Choose one thing to explore that nourishes your sense of agency.
4. Co-Workers & Networks
→ Differences are inevitable. The question is: Can I hold a view and hold space for others?
Sometimes, leadership is enduring a tension long enough for a better conversation to emerge.
5. Processes & Structures
→ Routines help us hold chaos without collapsing.
What rhythms ground you? Morning silence? Weekly reflection? Repeated journaling?
6. Projects & Products
→ What we build reflects how we relate to uncertainty.
Tiny experiments — like I shared in the last episode — allow us to act without needing certainty first.
7. Added Value
→ When we endure with purpose, we create value — not just output.
Mental strength isn’t about being efficient. It’s about being true to what matters.
Four Tiny Practices to Build Mental Strength
Inspired by both Rath’s reflections and my own work, here are four practical ways to strengthen your capacity to endure — with presence and direction:
- Schedule silence
Digital inputs erode inner clarity. Choose one hour a day without screens. Just space. - Write down your “Why”
Post it on your desk. Let it guide your daily decisions — especially under pressure. - Pause before reacting
Notice the urge to respond. On social media. In conversations. In meetings.
Then breathe. And choose if it’s worth it. - Reflect on your “holding moments”
Each evening, ask: What did I endure today that mattered?
And: Where did I reach my personal tipping point — and why?
Reading the WELT article reminded me that what we often call “resilience” is not just a trait — it’s a practice.
One that includes saying: This matters. This I hold.
And just as importantly: This I let pass. This I don’t need to carry.
In uncertain times, we need fewer hot takes — and more grounded presence.
More people who can hold tension without turning it into fear.
More self-leaders who know their limits — and choose consciously what they endure.
If that speaks to you — I invite you to listen to my episode on Self-Leadership and Mental Strength.
And if you want to go deeper: explore your own Seven Fields, one by one.
Let’s keep experimenting. Let’s keep holding. Together.
