The benefits of leaning into uncertainty
BLOG BY REBEKAH. C
Gain more confidence, control and opportunity!
The benefits of uncertainty are more significant than you’d think. Learning how to master the feeling of “not knowing” gives you more confidence, control, and opportunity in your life. Controlling your uncertainty means minimising your anxiety, improving your emotional intelligence, and even boosting your decision-making capabilities. Of course, uncertainty isn’t always easy to deal with. For the majority of people, the fear of ambiguity is where most of our worries begin. When we can’t guarantee an outcome in our lives – we tend to panic. Just think of some of the questions that might worry you. What if you don’t get the job you desperately want? What happens if the person you want to ask out doesn’t like you? Where are you going to be in five years? Uncertainty can feel like a black hole of potentially negative outcomes we desperately want to steer clear of.
So, how do you use something as complex as uncertainty to your advantage?
The science: why humans crave a sure thing
As human beings, we love knowing what’s going to happen. It gives us a sense of control, clarity, and purpose – we know exactly what to expect. According to experts, the desire for certainty goes right back to our caveman roots. We needed to be certain of everything to survive. Eat a berry you’re not sure about or go down the wrong path, and you risked death. In the 21st century, we don’t have to worry about whether there’s a bear around the corner or what a weird-looking plant will do to us – at least not as often. However, our brains have learned to respond to modern uncertainties in the same way.
Now more than ever, many of us are dealing with a significant amount of uncertainty. We’ve got a global pandemic to deal with, a changing economy, the threat of losing our jobs, and polarising politics. On top of all that, there are still everyday worries to consider, like not knowing if we can pay our bills one month, or if we’re going to feel well for work tomorrow. The more we allow uncertainty to be a disruptive factor in our lives, the more we suffer. In fact, being uncertain has a direct impact on your central nervous system [1], and your health. Feelings of uncertainty create stress, prompting increases in adrenaline and cortisol, changes in our heart rate, and countless other side effects. Fortunately, the negative side effects of uncertainty are actually a result of how we respond to being unsure. Learn how to cope with uncertainty effectively, and the stress disappears.
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Why uncertainty is a good thing
Uncertainty doesn’t have to be a horrible experience. If there’s one thing you can be truly certain about, it’s that you’re never going to be sure about anything in your life. Learning how to embrace that fact and the ambiguity that comes with it can change your life. Let’s look at the benefits of uncertainty:
#1 It’s exciting
You don’t know what you’re going to get when you open a present from a friend, but you’re thrilled by the surprise. Uncertainty can be an exciting thing, and it’s the foundation behind a lot of fun. If you were sure of everything that was going to happen in your life from now until the grave life would be pretty dull.
#2 Uncertainty helps you grow
Dealing with uncertainty is an exceptional opportunity to grow as a person. You won’t accomplish much by sitting in your comfort zone and never venturing outside. However, forcing yourself to take risks, and dive into uncertain experiences opens the door to endless opportunities. Every great discovery starts with being uncertain.
#3 It helps you appreciate life
Understanding the truth that all life is uncertain allows you to really appreciate the experiences you have. Realistically, anything could happen, any day of the year. Knowing this can help you to see just how amazing life is.
#4 Uncertainty pushes you to explore
If you knew everything about your life and the world around you, there’s little chance you’d try to discover new things or learn anything else. The fact that you’re not sure is what pushes you to keep testing yourself and your environment, to discover new things.
#3 It helps you appreciate life
Understanding the truth that all life is uncertain allows you to really appreciate the experiences you have. Realistically, anything could happen, any day of the year. Knowing this can help you to see just how amazing life is.
#4 Uncertainty pushes you to explore
If you knew everything about your life and the world around you, there’s little chance you’d try to discover new things or learn anything else. The fact that you’re not sure is what pushes you to keep testing yourself and your environment, to discover new things.
How to handle uncertainty
For most people, dealing with uncertainty isn’t naturally easy – but it’s something you can become more confident in over time. The faster you start embracing the “not knowing”, the more you can enjoy your life. Here are some quick tips to get you on the right track.
#1 Find what you can control:
Even when you’re going through an uncertain period in your life, or making a risky decision, there are things you can control. You can’t know for sure whether you’re going to get the job you apply for, but you can practice interviewing with a friend and doing the prep work.
Focus on making sure you look your best on the day and getting plenty of sleep the night before, so you’re ready to answer questions. Concentrating on the things you can control to make your preferred outcome more likely can put your mind at ease.
#2 Embrace the idea of many possibilities
Often, when we don’t know what’s going to happen in a situation, our minds automatically drift towards negative assumptions. However, the reality is there are countless different potential results from any event. If you’re not sure what will happen when you ask someone out, you might assume they’ll reject you, make you feel embarrassed, or act appalled. However, while those possibilities could happen, they could also say “yes” to your proposal, be thrilled about the idea, or even ask you out first. Even if someone says “no”, they could suggest introducing you to a friend or end up becoming one of the closest pals in your life. Suspend expectations and remember that possibilities are often infinite.
#3 Watch the thoughts you focus on
As mentioned above, negative thinking is common in uncertain situations. Because we’re not sure of a positive outcome, our mind bombards us with potential bad scenarios. However, you don’t have to allow yourself to fall down that rabbit hole. Next time you’re not sure about something, and you’re feeling worried, imagine the worst thing that could happen. Now, imagine what you could potentially do to manage this scenario. For instance, if you’re terrified, you’re going to end up getting sick before a big meeting, you can focus on taking vitamins, getting plenty of rest, and looking after yourself in the time leading up to the event. If you still get sick and you can’t attend the meeting, you can look for ways to make up for it later, by re-organising your presentation. Exploring potential outcomes rather than just focusing on one expectation can give you more control.
#2 Embrace the idea of many possibilities
Often, when we don’t know what’s going to happen in a situation, our minds automatically drift towards negative assumptions. However, the reality is there are countless different potential results from any event. If you’re not sure what will happen when you ask someone out, you might assume they’ll reject you, make you feel embarrassed, or act appalled. However, while those possibilities could happen, they could also say “yes” to your proposal, be thrilled about the idea, or even ask you out first. Even if someone says “no”, they could suggest introducing you to a friend or end up becoming one of the closest pals in your life. Suspend expectations and remember that possibilities are often infinite.
#3 Watch the thoughts you focus on
As mentioned above, negative thinking is common in uncertain situations. Because we’re not sure of a positive outcome, our mind bombards us with potential bad scenarios. However, you don’t have to allow yourself to fall down that rabbit hole. Next time you’re not sure about something, and you’re feeling worried, imagine the worst thing that could happen. Now, imagine what you could potentially do to manage this scenario. For instance, if you’re terrified, you’re going to end up getting sick before a big meeting, you can focus on taking vitamins, getting plenty of rest, and looking after yourself in the time leading up to the event. If you still get sick and you can’t attend the meeting, you can look for ways to make up for it later, by re-organising your presentation. Exploring potential outcomes rather than just focusing on one expectation can give you more control.
Don’t let the question marks control you...
Uncertainty and the unknown are something we naturally feel worried about. Question marks in our lives are automatically anxiety-provoking and even scarring. However, the truth is, there’s nothing we can do to make all things in life certain. Even if there was, a life without ambiguity definitely wouldn’t be a lot of fun. All you can really do is decide whether you’re going to let the question marks terrify and control you. Fear has a way of making us feel paralysed and overwhelmed. However, it’s important to remember you’ve dealt with the uncertainties of life this far. You can get through the unsure moments to come too. Need a little more inspiration?
Check out these helpful books:
- Managing uncertainty: Strategies for surviving and thriving in turbulent times
- Thinking in Bets: Making smarter decisions
- Radical uncertainty: Decision making for an unknown future
References
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008217300369