Between movement and stillness

Sometimes everything seems to be moving at once. And that is exactly when life can decide to bring you to a standstill.

Recently, I have sent out quite a number of job applications. As I wrote before, it remains disappointing how many of them go unanswered. No response, no rejection, sometimes not even a confirmation of receipt. At first, I followed up, asking for a response or at least an acknowledgment, but that turned out to be wasted energy. So I decided to put less emphasis on that and focus on what actually moves. (See also: Applying for jobs: between visibility and silence).

And sometimes, movement comes in waves. Last week, I had three interviews. Three, in one week. It took some switching, but above all, it felt refreshing. What stood out most was how open and pleasant those conversations were. No checklists, no focus on age or just the past, but genuine interest in who I am as a person and what I bring.

That does something to you. It shifts how you see yourself. Apparently, I am still relevant, still interesting to the market. And perhaps even more important, it reminds me that there are places where people look beyond your resume and see the person behind it.

That sense of renewed confidence and positivity did not last. Life sometimes has a way of pausing you, especially when you feel like you are finally in a good flow. Not necessarily negative, but intense. Things happen that you did not anticipate, that do not take your plans or your newly found rhythm into account.

In those moments, your perspective shifts. Where you were focused on moving forward, setting goals and seizing opportunities, it suddenly becomes about something else. About being there. Truly being there. Without judgment, without immediately trying to offer solutions, without the urge to fix things.

I find that this might be one of the hardest things: standing beside someone without the urge to take over. Trusting the other person’s process, even when it feels uncertain or vulnerable. Giving space while staying involved. Offering support without conditions, without pushing a direction. Maybe this touches on where I find myself right now, and how I try to be present without taking over.

These are the moments that force you to reconsider what really matters. Work, opportunities and perspective remain valuable, but they do not stand alone. They exist alongside everything life can unexpectedly place in your path.

Maybe that is the most important lesson of this period: control is relative, but presence is not. You cannot always influence what happens, but you can choose how you show up for others.

As it is sometimes said:

“Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply be there, without trying to change anything.”