The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with.” – Tony Robbins
In the vast landscape of existence, one often shies away from uncertainty—a realm seemingly uninviting. This sentiment echoes not just from clients and friends, but from the very voice within. Certainty, it appears, perpetually triumphs over uncertainty in our preference. Humans crave the known.
Reflect on the instance when our house was on the market last year. The questions lingered: Would it sell? When? And what value would it hold? Should we begin packing closets or await the cascade of offers? Amidst this whirlwind of uncertainty, embracing the present became arduous. In response, I concocted preemptive steps—packing closets prematurely—to divert focus from the anxiety that uncertainty spawns.
A parallel yearning for certainty arose when I embarked on my business venture years ago. Instead of reveling in the mystery, I pined for the embrace of certainty. What would the venture resemble in a year, a decade? Whence would clients appear? How would each day unfold? Certainty was my wish, a guarantee of alignment. Faith alone felt inadequate. The allure of anticipation? A resounding ‘no.’
I harbored little fascination for vague contours or the vast expanse where occurrences remain enigmatic, yet every potential resides. Certainty appeared preferable on any given day.
A panoramic vista and boundless possibilities hold not all they promise.
In this tapestry of life, the desire for certainty is intrinsic. We quest for insight into our dwelling place, our impending career shifts, and the tapestry’s unfolding. The accuracy or utility of our knowledge often pales in significance. The quest isn’t for truth, clarity, or understanding, but rather for a steadfast anchor within the turbulence.
As my journey to inner serenity unfolded, I waded into uncertainty with reduced apprehension, driven by curiosity. A newfound perspective emerged: perhaps uncertainty isn’t the foe it’s been cast as. Maybe, just maybe, it possesses an unexplored facet.
Behold four pivotal steps to transmute uncertainty into a companion of choice, making it bearable—and even exciting. But for now, let’s tackle the journey toward bearing it with grace.
1. Expanding Horizons In the face of uncertainty, our minds rush to foresee outcomes. Yet, these glimpsed options rarely encapsulate the entirety of potential. During my foray into a fresh business realm, I fixated on limited prospects: either monumental failure or a mere escape. Although my intuition sensed uncharted paths, anxiety tethered me to a narrow focus devoid of imaginative solutions.
2. Nurture Fluid Thinking Too often, thoughts congeal in our bid to predict the future. This phenomenon, described by Pema Chodron as “concretizing thoughts,” solidifies them—like concrete—making them rigid and unyielding, even when primarily fear-driven and untrue. Embrace fluidity; let thoughts drift like water, adaptable and free. Permit mental currents to usher in brighter notions.
3. Lean into Uncertainty Rather than plunging recklessly, gradually embrace the unfamiliar. Soften your thoughts, gently venturing into the unknown. This measured approach curbs fear’s surge. Understand that the dread often dwells more in thought than reality.
4. Reflect on Triumphs Over Uncertainty Recall the past and remember instances where uncertainty veiled your path, only for events to harmonize in the most splendid manner. Certainty is, indeed, illusory—a disconnection from outcomes. Remember my expedition toward motherhood: eighteen months of uncertainty, culminating in flawless timing, obscured during the trials.
Uncertainty interlaces the mosaic of existence. Instead of resisting, grasp it. Recognize that concealed within unforeseen choices lies potential for profound delight. As time unwinds, gratitude will unfurl for the once unimaginable.
Once the threshold of “tolerable” is crossed, seize the plunge into uncertainty’s vast embrace. Within that unexplored frontier, you might uncover untold opportunities. Break free from the shackles of certainty and thrive within uncertainty’s limitless realm. Your life’s canvas awaits, painted by the strokes of uncertainty.