HOW TO BE OKAY WITH THE UNKNOWN

Have you ever felt completely content, only to be blindsided by a sudden wave of unease, as if your peace was too good to last? You feel like you have it all figured out, but uncertainty creeps in, unraveling everything you thought you had figured out. This is the essence of life, precarious and full of curve balls. And as humans we long for security and consistency, it is a fundamental need. 

While there are some people in our lives who like to live on the “wild side” or take risks, uncertainty is unavoidable— for all of us. What matters most is our response to the unknown. When we are able to recognize uncertainty as a space for growth rather than an obstacle, something new can blossom.

Why are we so afraid of uncertainty? This is actually a very ingrained psychological response. Our brains are essentially anticipation machines, always analyzing past experiences and our present environment to predict future events. Uncertainty makes it difficult to plan, prepare, or protect ourselves from imagined outcomes. So, when there are unknown factors involved, it throws that predictive process completely unbalanced. This can quickly send us spiraling into anxiety or fear.

Uncertainty can leave us feeling uneasy in decision-making, and drowning in never-ending worst case scenarios of what could happen next. However, this is not a life sentence, there are ways to combat this and remain resilient in the face of the unknown. This requires a shift in mindset: moving away from the misconception that incessant worrying gives us control. It only provides the oppositie; keeping us stuck in an endless cycle of negativity. 

Shifting your mindset is the first step, but isn’t always easy to do, especially in the moment. Grounding yourself in the present can help to build a sense of stability within. Luckily, there are many accessible practices to turn to when the burden of the unknown starts to settle in. Some of these tools include:

1.  Practicing mindfulness:

Mindfulness can help to anchor you in the present moment, instead of spiraling into the possibilities of an imagined future. It’s incredibly easy to start implementing mindfulness in your daily life. This can be done by bringing your focus back inward instead of externally, focusing on physical sensations like your breath, or even incorporating mindfulness practice through meditation.

Journaling can also be a form of mindfulness, as you’re able to write your thoughts in real time and focus in on those present feelings, grounding you in the moment. To practice mindfulness is to build acceptance within yourself, allowing yourself to notice your thoughts and feelings as they pass, without judgment. It’s acknowledging that it’s okay to feel anxious or worried about something, but not letting it consume you. The more you return to yourself in the present, the easier it becomes to find calm in the chaos.

2.  Acknowledging uncertainty

To acknowledge uncertainty, you have to look within yourself. This could mean taking time to sit with your thoughts and noticing when exactly that sense of uncertainty starts to creep in, what’s happening in that moment, and what might be triggering those anxious emotions.

When you feel the distress settle in, allow yourself to fully feel the weight of it. You might realize you’re searching for reassurance or control, and that’s okay. Acknowledging that craving is part of the process. As you become more aware of the emotion surrounding the unknown, you can start to let it pass, becoming an observer of your thoughts and feelings, rather than an active participant in the spiral.

Take your time. Don’t rush it. What’s causing you to worry or overthink will pass; and it doesn’t define you, or your future.

3.  Staying aware of what you can control

It can be extremely difficult to feel or to stay grounded in a time of worry or anticipation of what’s to come through the fog you must hold onto what is within your reach.  In moments of uncertainty, this means to focus on what it is, you can control rather than grasping at things you can’t.

This can apply to a lot of different things. For instance, if you text someone and they don’t text you back, you cannot control their actions or reasoning. However, what you can control is how you respond to that, and how much energy you are willing to pour into that uncertainty. 

In this way, you can reclaim your energy in your control even in small ways this can make an immense difference.  it serves as a reminder that even in the midst of the unknown, you are not powerless. 

Facing uncertainty is not an easy feat, but it’s something we all experience in one way or another. It’s through uncertainty that we build resilience, the kind that helps us navigate the many twists and turns life throws our way.

I hope that the next time you feel unsure or overwhelmed, you remind yourself that those feelings are completely valid; but they do not define or control you. We are the creators of our own experience, and we must ground ourselves in that belief.