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🌸 The Lotus Strategy: Thriving in the “As-Is” Reality 🌸
TDLR: “The Lotus Strategy: Thriving in the As-Is Reality” by Teri Arvesú González explores how realism, non-conformism, and idealism coexist as a framework for leadership, innovation, and resilience. Drawing on design thinking, behavioral science, and everyday reflection, it challenges readers to stop waiting for perfect conditions and learn to thrive within their current environment. Using the symbolism of the lotus and the metaphor of the umbrella, this piece invites leaders, creators, and changemakers to embrace adaptability, creative problem-solving, and situational awareness as the foundation for growth in uncertain times.
by: Teri Arvesú González
The lotus has always been a paradox of beauty and strength — a flower that rises from the mud to meet the light. It blooms not in pristine conditions, but in murky waters, transforming what others see as limitation into nourishment. Its power comes not from escaping the environment, but from mastering it. The lotus reminds us that thriving doesn’t require ideal conditions — only adaptation, awareness, and audacity.
Today, while doom-scrolling — yes, I admit, I’m guilty — an ad for lotus seeds popped up on my feed. And somehow, in the middle of algorithms and distraction, it inspired this reflection.
The lotus doesn’t wait for perfect water to bloom.It rises through the mud, using the very thing that could have suffocated it as the source of its strength.It operates — and thrives — in an as-is reality.
Reality grounds us.That image captures what it means to live — and lead — in truth.Not the version we idealize or believe should exist, but the one that simply is.
So much of our frustration doesn’t come from what happened in the past — it comes from unmet expectations.We picture how things should be and then resist what actually is.
And while I’m a fan of challenging norms and questioning the assumptions that hold us back, there are elements of certain situations that simply may not be changeable — at least not right now.That’s where awareness and discernment come in.
We can’t transform what we haven’t first diagnosed.But diagnosing doesn’t mean labeling the entire situation as good or bad — it means compartmentalizing it.Some parts require acceptance.Others invite innovation, non-conformism, or even idealism.
That’s the art of thriving in the as-is reality: knowing what to challenge, what to change, and what to embrace.
Because “should’ve, would’ve, could’ve” isn’t a strategy — it’s a stall.It keeps us waiting for ideal conditions instead of using the ones we have.It’s also an excuse — a clever way to avoid the risk of fear, rejection, or failure by redirecting our energy toward blame or paralysis.
As long as we’re wishing for the perfect setup, we never have to test what’s possible in the imperfect one.Yet progress happens here. Resilience is built here.Even if success means learning, pivoting, or earning the experience to carry into the next chapter — growth lives in motion, not theory.
And yet — I’m a fan of idealism. I believe in dreaming audaciously.In design thinking, in innovation, and in leadership, we need idealism to stretch beyond limits, to imagine what doesn’t yet exist, to solve for pain points that require vision.Idealism is the fuel of possibility.
But non-conformism is the engine.And reality is the stage — the entry point for it all.
There’s a dance between the three — between vision and acceptance, imagination and adjustment.Moments that demand innovation ask us to be idealists.Moments that demand resilience ask us to be realists.And every challenge, setback, or transition invites us to move between them — with awareness, discernment, and timing.
Knowing when to dream, when to adapt, and when to act — that’s strategy.
And somewhere in that mix lives another vital ingredient: non-conformism — the courage to look at the mud and say, “This isn’t the end of the story.”
Take the simple umbrella.Someone, somewhere, got tired of getting drenched.They didn’t curse the rain or pretend it would stop.They asked themselves, “What do I know for sure?”
The realist answered: It’s going to rain.The non-conformist added: I don’t have to keep getting wet.And the idealist imagined: There must be a way to walk through storms differently.
In design thinking, we often use the “alternative universe” technique — imagining a world where constraints don’t exist, not to escape reality but to reveal the hidden possibilities within it.And with a spark of non-conformism, that person created a tool that redefined how humans move through storms.
That’s the sweet spot.Reality grounds us, provides the data, and gives us a point of entry.Non-conformism makes us audacious and bold enough to see opportunity.Idealism propels us forward and gives us direction.
These three forces — while seemingly at odds — actually coexist in harmony when we allow them to.When we learn to hold them together, we stop oscillating between hope and hesitation.We stop using perfectionism as a disguise for fear.And we begin to design lives — and systems — that are both imaginative and adaptive.
That’s how the lotus thrives. It doesn’t deny the mud; it transcends it.
In Spanish, there’s a phrase that captures this perfectly:“Con, sin, o a pesar de ti.”With you, without you, or despite you — I will thrive.
It’s not defiance. It’s discipline.It’s knowing when to surrender, when to imagine, and when to act.
So as you move through your own moment — whether it’s muddy or crystal clear — ask yourself:Where do I need to dream bigger?Where do I need to get real?And where do I need to refuse conformity — to design my own umbrella instead of waiting for the rain to stop?
Because the truth is:The lotus isn’t proof that the mud disappeared.It’s proof that you turned it into momentum.
Download here: The Lotus Discernment Framework™ is your companion to The Lotus Strategy: Thriving in the As-Is Reality. This guided exercise helps you pause and ask the question that cuts through noise and emotion: What do I know for sure? From there, you’ll learn to diagnose your current situation, compartmentalize what needs acceptance, innovation, or imagination, and choose the right mindset — realism, non-conformism, or idealism — to move forward with clarity and intention.
About the Author
Teri Arvesú González is the founder of The TAG Collab, a consultancy helping mission-driven companies align purpose, brand, and strategy from the inside out.
A Latina media executive with more than 25 years leading newsrooms in Miami and Chicago, she has launched national initiatives, built high-performing teams, and driven transformation across industries. She writes on Latina leadership, cultural duality, bicultural identity, and the neuroscience of resilience.
đź“Ś Connect with Teri:
* Podcast: The TAG Collab
* TikTok
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetagcollab.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By The TAG CollabTDLR: “The Lotus Strategy: Thriving in the As-Is Reality” by Teri Arvesú González explores how realism, non-conformism, and idealism coexist as a framework for leadership, innovation, and resilience. Drawing on design thinking, behavioral science, and everyday reflection, it challenges readers to stop waiting for perfect conditions and learn to thrive within their current environment. Using the symbolism of the lotus and the metaphor of the umbrella, this piece invites leaders, creators, and changemakers to embrace adaptability, creative problem-solving, and situational awareness as the foundation for growth in uncertain times.
by: Teri Arvesú González
The lotus has always been a paradox of beauty and strength — a flower that rises from the mud to meet the light. It blooms not in pristine conditions, but in murky waters, transforming what others see as limitation into nourishment. Its power comes not from escaping the environment, but from mastering it. The lotus reminds us that thriving doesn’t require ideal conditions — only adaptation, awareness, and audacity.
Today, while doom-scrolling — yes, I admit, I’m guilty — an ad for lotus seeds popped up on my feed. And somehow, in the middle of algorithms and distraction, it inspired this reflection.
The lotus doesn’t wait for perfect water to bloom.It rises through the mud, using the very thing that could have suffocated it as the source of its strength.It operates — and thrives — in an as-is reality.
Reality grounds us.That image captures what it means to live — and lead — in truth.Not the version we idealize or believe should exist, but the one that simply is.
So much of our frustration doesn’t come from what happened in the past — it comes from unmet expectations.We picture how things should be and then resist what actually is.
And while I’m a fan of challenging norms and questioning the assumptions that hold us back, there are elements of certain situations that simply may not be changeable — at least not right now.That’s where awareness and discernment come in.
We can’t transform what we haven’t first diagnosed.But diagnosing doesn’t mean labeling the entire situation as good or bad — it means compartmentalizing it.Some parts require acceptance.Others invite innovation, non-conformism, or even idealism.
That’s the art of thriving in the as-is reality: knowing what to challenge, what to change, and what to embrace.
Because “should’ve, would’ve, could’ve” isn’t a strategy — it’s a stall.It keeps us waiting for ideal conditions instead of using the ones we have.It’s also an excuse — a clever way to avoid the risk of fear, rejection, or failure by redirecting our energy toward blame or paralysis.
As long as we’re wishing for the perfect setup, we never have to test what’s possible in the imperfect one.Yet progress happens here. Resilience is built here.Even if success means learning, pivoting, or earning the experience to carry into the next chapter — growth lives in motion, not theory.
And yet — I’m a fan of idealism. I believe in dreaming audaciously.In design thinking, in innovation, and in leadership, we need idealism to stretch beyond limits, to imagine what doesn’t yet exist, to solve for pain points that require vision.Idealism is the fuel of possibility.
But non-conformism is the engine.And reality is the stage — the entry point for it all.
There’s a dance between the three — between vision and acceptance, imagination and adjustment.Moments that demand innovation ask us to be idealists.Moments that demand resilience ask us to be realists.And every challenge, setback, or transition invites us to move between them — with awareness, discernment, and timing.
Knowing when to dream, when to adapt, and when to act — that’s strategy.
And somewhere in that mix lives another vital ingredient: non-conformism — the courage to look at the mud and say, “This isn’t the end of the story.”
Take the simple umbrella.Someone, somewhere, got tired of getting drenched.They didn’t curse the rain or pretend it would stop.They asked themselves, “What do I know for sure?”
The realist answered: It’s going to rain.The non-conformist added: I don’t have to keep getting wet.And the idealist imagined: There must be a way to walk through storms differently.
In design thinking, we often use the “alternative universe” technique — imagining a world where constraints don’t exist, not to escape reality but to reveal the hidden possibilities within it.And with a spark of non-conformism, that person created a tool that redefined how humans move through storms.
That’s the sweet spot.Reality grounds us, provides the data, and gives us a point of entry.Non-conformism makes us audacious and bold enough to see opportunity.Idealism propels us forward and gives us direction.
These three forces — while seemingly at odds — actually coexist in harmony when we allow them to.When we learn to hold them together, we stop oscillating between hope and hesitation.We stop using perfectionism as a disguise for fear.And we begin to design lives — and systems — that are both imaginative and adaptive.
That’s how the lotus thrives. It doesn’t deny the mud; it transcends it.
In Spanish, there’s a phrase that captures this perfectly:“Con, sin, o a pesar de ti.”With you, without you, or despite you — I will thrive.
It’s not defiance. It’s discipline.It’s knowing when to surrender, when to imagine, and when to act.
So as you move through your own moment — whether it’s muddy or crystal clear — ask yourself:Where do I need to dream bigger?Where do I need to get real?And where do I need to refuse conformity — to design my own umbrella instead of waiting for the rain to stop?
Because the truth is:The lotus isn’t proof that the mud disappeared.It’s proof that you turned it into momentum.
Download here: The Lotus Discernment Framework™ is your companion to The Lotus Strategy: Thriving in the As-Is Reality. This guided exercise helps you pause and ask the question that cuts through noise and emotion: What do I know for sure? From there, you’ll learn to diagnose your current situation, compartmentalize what needs acceptance, innovation, or imagination, and choose the right mindset — realism, non-conformism, or idealism — to move forward with clarity and intention.
About the Author
Teri Arvesú González is the founder of The TAG Collab, a consultancy helping mission-driven companies align purpose, brand, and strategy from the inside out.
A Latina media executive with more than 25 years leading newsrooms in Miami and Chicago, she has launched national initiatives, built high-performing teams, and driven transformation across industries. She writes on Latina leadership, cultural duality, bicultural identity, and the neuroscience of resilience.
đź“Ś Connect with Teri:
* Podcast: The TAG Collab
* TikTok
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetagcollab.substack.com/subscribe