I urge you to show patience with the unresolved aspects of your heart and to cherish the questions themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a foreign tongue. Seek not the answers, for they cannot be given now, as living them is essential. The essence is to live every moment. Live the questions of today, for perhaps one day in the distant future, you will, without realizing, journey into the answers.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
In a daring escapade, I ventured alone along Peru’s Salkantay Trail, spanning fifty miles and consuming four days of my life. The journey was a tapestry of discovery, and from it emerged four vital lessons that have empowered me to embrace and fathom phases of uncertainty. Yet, before I share these insights, let me delve into the backstory:
A year earlier, my life was a battlefield of inner turmoil. Swiftly, I transitioned from clarity of purpose to utter bewilderment, leaving me adrift. This unfamiliarity was unsettling, as I had spent a lifetime marching resolutely towards defined goals.
Almost two years preceding my Peruvian odyssey, I had invested boundless effort in a local political campaign during the 2016 elections, only to face defeat. The following presidential election outcome added to my desolation.
Subsequently, a journey to Thailand with a friend was a reprieve, but it didn’t abate the disorientation that plagued me upon my return. I was propelled by political fervor, and thus materialized a non-profit in my state, advocating for women in politics.
Days blurred into nights as I formulated plans, networked, and shaped the organization into a dynamic force. However, my internal compass didn’t align with the organization’s long-term trajectory.
Although capable, youth, inexperience, insecurity, and competing priorities dulled my commitment. The glitter of the pursuit dimmed as I neared it, unveiling my evolving disinterest.
A year post-organization’s inception, I resigned from its board. Around the same time, my relationship dissolved, ushering in a distinct breed of vulnerability—exposing realms I’d adeptly avoided.
The decision to trek through the Andes aimed to kindle clarity. Nature’s embrace, I believed, would unlock insight into my tumultuous journey and illuminate the road ahead.
Yet, clarity doesn’t manifest by mere demand. It materializes through the crucible of uncertainty’s discomfort. In the realm of doubt, genuine revelation germinates, though in its time.
If you grapple with uncertainty—be it career or relationships—my lessons may illuminate your path:
- Endure Pain, Persevere: The third day of my hike unveiled blisters and aching calves. Each step invoked agony, yet the unknown horizon beckoned. Breaking the journey into smaller segments and embracing the pain propelled me onward. Likewise, uncertainty guarantees discomfort; it’s an arena of vulnerability, frustration, and even temptation to quit. Yet, traversing uncertainty requires the endurance to endure—focusing on manageable moments and the prospect of insight in each step.
- Reject Distractions, Embrace Focus: Traveling solo often echoes solitude. Loneliness nagged, urging distractions. I envied couples hiking, yearning for solace. Temptation to chase fleeting distractions can ensnare us when uncertainty drowns. But, these diversions cloud our path, impeding progress. The urge to seize mediocre options driven by fear is potent. Embrace uncertainty’s emptiness; meaningful purpose emerges amidst discomfort.
- Trust the Path, Trust Guides: Early on, I took the wrong trail, corrected by strangers. Their guidance proved invaluable. A young boy’s gesture steered me right another day. Trusting guides and signs is vital in our journey of uncertainty. Sometimes, maps can’t lead; faith must. Await signs; explore; follow the path’s twists. Clear direction emerges when we continue, often when least expected.
- Self-Care Empowers Progress: Nearing my journey’s end, blistered and weary, rest was crucial. Reviving my body allowed progress, the pain manageable. Self-care fuels resilience in uncertainty. Prioritize rest, journaling, exercise, and healing to endure discomfort. Amid turmoil, ensure you’re equipped for the road ahead; from rest springs momentum.
Uncertainty mirrors life’s journey, uncharted and diverse. Much like a trail, life winds, ascends, descends, but rarely adheres to a straight course. Welcome uncertainty as life’s essence, yet remember, the panorama isn’t meant for aerial views. It’s woven through personal experiences—embrace each step.
The journey is studded with moments of clarity, peeking through the forest of uncertainty. At times, you’ll stand at a vantage, comprehending the tapestry of events. However, the route is often obscure, unobscured by doubt. When trust bridges the gap between now and the eventual, you harness the energy needed to tread onward.