Means of Prevailing: G3-Triads

"Say not the struggle naught availeth."

Arthur Hugh Clough, 1849

Sustain Endurance

Once continuity-G2 is established, the next requirement in attempting the impossible is to maintain intentions that govern the effort through thick and thin. In comparison to ordinary projects, progress when attempting the impossible is usually disorderly and the time-scale uncertain.

Sustaining the effort through frustrations, diversions, disappointments and blind alleys is an expression of endurance and a readiness to suffer for the cause.

Willingness to sustain endurance appears to be enabled by adding an additional level to the groups leading to the formation of 5 triads. Each triad has a qualifier that fits with facing-L3. This is provisionally proposed to be «explicitly» in the sense of being open, clear and aware about essentials of the situation.

The triad as a whole must be explicit, and the highest level specifically requires the g3-explicit quality. The middle level must be g2-unequivocal, and the lowest level must be g1-confident.

As part of endurance, there is a desire to prevail over whatever difficulty presents—even though prevailing may not always be possible. The grouping generates 3 distinct means of prevailing which are proposed as follows:

  • Coping (G31)
  • Following (G32)
  • Confronting (G33)
  • Immersing (G34)
  • Venturing (G35)

The function of the triads is proposed as: to deal with obstacles while maintaining direction and momentum.

The triads reveal a progression upwards from the mundane, immediate and unavoidable through to the more imaginative, occasional and optional.

Requirements: All the means involve actively entangling yourself in problematic situations, that you might otherwise avoid. So there must be a tolerance for hardships, and a readiness to bear up under physical, psychological and social distress.

Dysfunction shows up as a loss of focus with activities drifting away from relevant goals.

Destructiveness shows up as sabotage of the attempt by substituting undesired or inappropriate goals.

Oscillating Pattern?

The potential for a pattern emerges from the contrast previously noted between G1-monads and G2-dyads.

G1-hoping is a matter of personal assertion directed outwards to others.

While G2-determination is directed inwards to oneself but dependent on confirmation from others.

The contrast suggests that G3-endurance might resemble G1-hope. On examination: coping, following, confronting, immersing & venturing do appear to be expressions of personal intention and responsibility. So use of G3-means of prevailing is a matter of personal assertion directed outwards—confirming a likely oscillating pattern.

Function: as basis for taxonomic identification.

Challenge in maintaining intentions and so proceeding.

Structure of the triad into three levels.

Stance in rising to the challenge.

Prevalence and necessity for use.

Time Horizon in proceeding.

Failure effect when a means of proceeding is needed.

Means of Proceeding

Cope-G31

Function: To deal effectively with a situation without ceasing despite its many demands.

Attempting the impossible means that the situation will be difficult to handle. Typically there are intrusions, distractions, obstacles and resistances which cannot be ignored and must be managed. Situations evolve in unpredictable ways with interventions often triggering reactions and difficulties. Those likely to benefit may create additional difficulties through seemingly unreasonable entreaties. Whatever happens, the situation must be managed in a positive methodical way as the attempt proceeds.

Coping is based in:

L1: Confidently trying because coping is about doing. Confidence enables calm and methodical attempts of various sorts, one of which is likely to be effective.

L2: Unequivocally believing that the situation can be handled, because otherwise it is easy to become overwhelmed and collapse in despair.

L3: Explicitly facing the actual and ever-changing reality of the situation. Unless the specific problem or disruption is clearly identified, it will not be handled appropriately and you will not prevail.

ClosedProperties

Stance: Reactive and defensive to protect the main effort.

Prevalence: Invariable and unavoidable because coping is obligatory.

Time Horizon: Coping is immediate and exists in a continuous present.

Failure: If coping fails, then the attempt will fail and likely be abandoned.

Follow-G32

Function: To align with given directions despite personal reservations.

Given directions, whether from a leader or based in a group consensus, may seem incoherent, inconsistent, debatable, misguided or contrary to your own judgement. The group itself may be uncertain or wavering or divided in its endorsement of a direction.

Following is based in:

L2: Confidently believing in the value of the directions that will assist you to prevail. This may mean believing in the leadership too. In all cases, reservations will undermine your participation

L3: Unequivocally facing specific facts in the situation, because the direction given is about dealing with a particular reality and it is not possible to follow without being aware of that reality.

L4: Explicitly participating which is why the directions that are given by the group or a recognized leader cannot be ignored. Following directions is a way of demonstrating belonging. Defiance would be viewed as rejecting participation and, depending on the seriousness, could result in exclusion from the group.

ClosedProperties

Stance: Receptive.

Prevalence: Ubiquitous, but not universal or compulsory. Everyone, even the leader, is expected to be a follower in some aspects of their life. Instead of being an expression of willingness, following is often semi-automatic and more like a habit of subordination.

Time Horizon: Following may be for an indefinite period, or the period may be contingent on an outcome, or pre-defined to last for a limited time.

Failure: Dissent and disagreement can coexist with following. However, if following ceases, this is defiance or disobedience. If widespread, then the group is liable to fall into disarray. Following persists if there is defection or rebellion—it is just transferred to an alternative leadership.

Confront-G33

Function: To highlight uncomfortable realities despite social resistance and potential hostility.

Confrontation is often awkward or uncomfortable. It may be unconventional in the group, affect vested interests, embarrass members or leaders, present as a threat, appear as arrogance, and ruffle feathers in the hierarchy. The possibility of being ignored, rejected or discredited is high.

Confronting is based in:

L3: Confidently facing a reality which a key person or many in the group are ignoring and over which it is necessary to prevail. The ignored reality is something crucial like a danger, a failure, a mistake, a loss, an opportunity.

L4: Unequivocally participating in the group and its future. If the group was not so important, confronting would not occur.

L5: Explicitly risking your position and reputation in the group for the benefit that is likely if what has been ignored or avoided is taken seriously and addressed.

ClosedProperties

Stance: Assertive.

Prevalence: Less common because of tendencies in groups to avoid conflict, seek consensus and value conformity.

Time Horizon: Confronting occurs episodically. It is needed at a specific moment, either because the time is felt to be right or because an issue has come to light and any delay in bringing it to the attention of others seems too risky.

Failure: Seeing the need for confrontation and not speaking up is a form of submissive weakness or a capitulation to groupthink.

Immerse-G34

Function: To absorb oneself in a challenge despite costs and uncertainty of success.

In many situations, there is a block to progress that resists conventional comprehension from the outside. In order to proceed, there must be a deliberate immersion in the issue to allow understanding imaginatively from the inside.

Immersion takes attention, time and energy away from the obvious needs and immediate practicalities seen by others. It is difficult to assess in advance whether immersion will generate valuable insights.

Immersing is based in:

L4: Confidently participating with individuals associated with the block, so they encourage and enable your efforts to prevail.

L5: Unequivocally risking your time, your energies, your balance, the support and perhaps even the respect of others if the effort turns out to be fruitless.

L6: Explicitly learning what you need to know to overcome the specific block that precipitated this approach. To communicate and retain the support of others, you must be explicit about what you learn from the immersion.

ClosedProperties

Stance: Reflective because immersion generates experiences and exposes you to knowledge that must be digested and interpreted in relation to prevailing.

Prevalence: Optional and selective, with this path depending on personal preferences as well as the particular role adopted or assigned.

Time Horizon: Extended for as long as required.

Failure: If immersion is required, then an unwillingness to put in the effort, get the experience, reflect and learn leads to misdirection or a superficial approach to prevailing that will not succeed.

Venture-G35

Function: To embark on an unfamiliar endeavour despite its unknown requirements and consequences.

Entering the unknown involves learning from experience while facing dangers that cannot be wholly predicted or mitigated in advance. This is most complex and risky means of prevailing.

Venturing is based in:

L5: Confidently risking because it is obvious that any unfamiliar initiative will expose you to hazards that cannot be wholly predicted or mitigated in advance, and yet confidence is essential or venturing will be half-hearted or entirely avoided.

L6: Unequivocally learning both prior to the venture to mitigate risk and as you reflect on your progress along new paths and into new arenas. You will also be forced to develop new knowledge and skills to handle surprises and dangers encountered along the way.

L7: Explicitly trusting your instincts and your imagination as well your colleagues on this new initiative.

ClosedProperties

Stance: Generative. The venture should produce something new and possibly enable a creative approach to prevailing.

Prevalence: Exceptional and highly individualized.

Time Horizon: Variable: the endeavour may be time-limited or open-ended.

Failure: Venturing will not occur if you limit yourself. It will surely fail if there is a lack of necessary forethought.

ClosedSee Table Summary for an Overview and Comparison

Triad Means of Proceeding Function in
Sustaining Endurance		 The Challenge Stance Prevalence Time Horizon Failure
G35 Venture To embark on an unfamiliar endeavour despite its unknown requirements and consequences. Entering the unknown involves learning from experience while facing dangers that cannot be wholly predicted or mitigated in advance. Generative Exceptional, individualized. Variable: Time-limited or open-ended. Self-limitation Lack of forethought.
G34 Immerse To absorb oneself in a challenge despite costs and uncertainty of discovering what is needed. Overcoming a block to progress that cannot be grasped from simple observations. Attention, time and energy are diverted from obvious needs, while ultimate benefit is difficult to assess. Reflective Optional, selective and dependent on role and personal preference. Extended for as long as required. Superficiality
Misdirection
G33 Confront To highlight uncomfortable realities despite social resistance and potential hostility. Confrontation is likely to be unconventional, disturb vested interests, appear as arrogance, or violate hierarchy—and may lead to rejection or discrediting. Assertive Less common because groups try to avoid conflict.
 Episodic: used at a specific moment felt to be right or because any delay is too risky. Submissive weakness
Capitulation to groupthink
G32 Follow To align with given directions despite personal reservations. Given directions may seem inconsistent, incoherent, lacking group backing, debatable, misguided or contrary to your own judgement. Receptive Ubiquitous but not universal or compulsory. Indefinite, or for a pre-defined or limited period. Defiance
Disobedience
Defection
G31 Cope To deal effectively with a situation without ceasing despite its many demands. The situation is difficult: ever-changing, unpredictable, and with obstacles, intrusions, distractions and resistances. Reactive Obligatory, so
unavoidable.		 Immediate: continuous present. Collapse, abandonment.

Studies in the Architecture Room have determined a standard pattern for pressures in the groupings of structural hierarchies. These studies determined 1° pressures that are structural or identity-based.

The identified 1° pressure for G3 is performance.This applies here because the person seeking to prevail can be expected to experience a pressure to perforrn, and endurance itself involves effective action.

Recent studies in a structural hierarchy identified the presence of a 2° pressure related to operating a structure. That becomes evident when focusing on the groups within any grouping. The pressure driving use of the various G3-groups here—coping, following, confronting, immersing, venturing—should be certainty if it follows the standard pattern.

On reflection, that would fit because the means of prevailingare all demanding and not spontaneously appealing. No-one is likely to adopt any unless they have a degree of certainty about their usefulness in rendering assistance. Outsiders too will request certainty before approving or supporting the various means.

Looking at the 2° pressure alternatives: ClosedAcceptability is taken for granted; well-beingis not expected under these conditions, understanding is not particularly relevant; autonomy is inappropriate because you are enmeshed in the situation at this point; and selflessness does not fit because the various groups call for self-assertion.

Transition

Prevailing has been sought, but not necessarily achieved. So the situation is endlessly difficult. Even as you endure, emotional pressures build, naysayers crow, social turbulence buffet. In the midst of it all, it is essential to remain steady, centred and unshaken in your will.

If balance is lost, then everything will fall apart. In any situation, the social environment and relationships are critical to this stability and to getting some movement in your attempt on the impossible.

It turns out that it is possible to take deliberate steps to maintain equilibrium by adding an additional adjacent level to form tetrads. They reveal powerful ways to enable movement by using relationships.

Originally posted: 12-Jun-2026.