Can we escape uncertainty?
If the past is unreliable and the future unpredictable, what options do we have?
In my recent workshop, I presented the concept that emotional self-regulation strategies vary in effectiveness, and some may even be detrimental in some situations. This point generated valuable feedback. Some participants clearly needed a concise conclusion. When should I use each technique, and what are their specific applications? Even with the latest scientific papers being outstanding, unfortunately, we sometimes lack definitive answers regarding the best course of action and timing. Every one of us will, eventually, have to tolerate, and maybe even grow to accept, a certain amount of uncertainty. This leads to the questions of how to deal with, or even overcome, the anxiety that uncertainty in our lives can create?
Uncertainty vs Anxiety
The need to foresee and plan for potential difficulties is fundamental to our nature. Worrying about the future might be why we constantly imagine what could happen, which can, in turn, increase anxiety. That might be why many people resort to all sorts of prediction methods, ranging from big data analysis and statistics to horoscopes. Even if we identify predictable patterns in events or behaviours, our predictions are still based on the past and may be unreliable, as future conditions could change dramatically, rendering past experience and knowledge obsolete. If the past is unreliable and the future unpredictable, what options do we have?
Do we have any solutions?
In short, accepting and embracing life’s uncertainties is the only way. Are you wondering how to do that? It’s important to train ourselves to derive our sense of security from our capacity to adapt and cope with life’s difficulties, rather than from possible certainties about the future.
We recall numerous instances of successful adaptation.
Even when external factors form the basis of our security, our feeling of security itself stems from our trust. We frequently only require our beliefs and trust; nothing else is necessary.
We often feel most alive and empowered when we successfully overcome challenges.
Remaining too long within the confines of our comfort zone is detrimental to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
To summarize, we have the opportunity to accept and even find joy in the benefits of uncertainty in our lives.
