Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
How often do you catch yourself jumping to conclusions before a situation has fully taken place? Do you find it challenging to stop yourself from anticipating all that could unfold instead of simply participating in the moment with your fullest attention?
Who in your life comes to mind when it comes to incessant worrying and making assumptions? In your experience, do you find that such moments of intense fear are effective towards the outcome? What strategies can you think of that might help you cope with moments of uncertainty in a less debilitating way?
II. Thoughts for intention
As difficult as it may be for any of us to hear, uncertainty is a natural and unavoidable part of life. It is inevitable and surrounds us on a daily basis. This is not easy to hear at times, but worrying as a habit only drains our energy and weakens our ability to make wise choices. When we wallow or agonize about a problem for a lengthy amount of time, we can end up feeling more afraid, overwhelmed, and incapable of handling the situation the right way. Ultimately, it is the act of worrying about the unknown that prevents us from developing the tolerance we need to overcome it.
Whether some of us are actively pursuing a life with greater acceptance for uncertainty, the truth is that we already accept a lot of it every single day. We may not realize it, but in every choice we make, so much of what goes into our experiences is out of our control, along with the many unpredictable scenarios that come with it. This is why our innate craving for security requires that we cultivate the right mindset to keep us empowered and confident about the things that are actually in our control.
III. Ideas for preparation
Circumstances and conditions will vary, but the one thing that will always be in our power to handle is our attitude and response to the emotions we feel. This allows us to face the reality of a situation with honesty and acceptance before dealing with the present moment at hand. By refocusing our attention from thoughts about a problem to the actual problem itself, we shift our ruminating mind into one better tuned to come up with a solution. By accepting our responsibility, we can actively learn to handle uncertainty with less stress in the process.
While not everyone is a fan of unexpected things, not all surprises are unpleasant. Some might even turn out as little blessings in disguise. We can adjust our discomfort with uncertainty by learning to seek the opportunities that arise from it. In doing so, we are developing a healthy and realistic outlook, which increases our focus and perseverance over time. Thankfully, the more we practice navigating uncertainty, the greater our adaptability to any future challenges in the long run.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“Maturity, one discovers, has everything to do with the acceptance of ‘not knowing.’”
― Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves
“No one ever said that you would live to see the repercussions of everything you do, or that you have guarantees, or that you are not obliged to wander in the dark, or that everything will be provided to you and neatly verified like something in science. Nothing is: at least nothing that is worthwhile. I didn’t bring you up only to move across sure ground. I didn’t teach you to think that everything must be within our control or understanding. Did I? For, if I did, I was wrong. If you won’t take a chance, then the powers you refuse because you cannot explain them, will, as they say, make a monkey out of you.”
― Mark Helprin, Winter’s Tale
