Finding Peace with Uncertainty

Fear of the future has the power to prevent us from taking action and to keep us clinging to harmful habits. For instance, even if clutter makes you anxious and is expensive, you could be clinging onto stuff out of a sense of comfort and security. Additionally, you may have a job you detest because you're scared to take a chance or fail.

Again, if you don't go to a place that seems extremely foreign because you don't know what will happen, you can lose out on an incredible, life-altering opportunity. This is just the beginning of how our lives are impacted by our dread of the future.

How to be at peace with uncertainty and let go of future worry were recent questions from readers. We all experience this dread, thus it's a fantastic question. Those of us.

What's happening here?

Where does this dread of the future and ambiguity originate from? Even if it may seem absurd to ask, even if you don't know what will happen, there is nothing fundamentally frightening about the future. It merely feels that way; it's not more likely to be unpleasant or tragic than the present is right now.

Consider this: the likelihood that you will be involved in an automobile accident tomorrow is not higher than it is now. The likelihood of something awful occurring is not higher than it was this week or next week. The likelihood that something amazing will occur next month will be the same as that of this month.

So why is it frightful? Why is the unknown so terrifying? Is it frightful to roll the dice and not know what the result would be? No, the issue isn't "not knowing," it's the likelihood that the outcome of the dice may cause us grief, suffering, or loss.

And because we often don't dread suffering a genuine injury, this imagined pain isn't physical. the suffering brought on by loss and transition. We feel safe and secure in the protective cocoon we have created for ourselves, which includes our daily routines, our things, the people we know, and our familiar surroundings. It's unpleasant and frightening to leave this safe area and enter a location where we're exposed and might fail or fall short.

We clutch and cling to this cozy ideal of how things ought to be, but it will inevitably change, and we will suffer the consequences of that shift. It's the resistance to change, the fear of change, and the desire for the status quo that is the issue, not the change itself.

How to Master Uncertainty

Thus, we can observe that the solution is improving at adapting. We don't dread it if we are adept at adjusting to new situations and taking things as they come, no matter how strange they may be. Change then starts to seem natural.

Change doesn't have to be frightening if we learn to accept it. Then we may enjoy it and accept it. This is evident in those who we label as "adventurous"; they actively seek out new experiences because they are confident in their ability to handle them and the potential for wonderful results. (Remember that this differs from "adventure-seeker" types who have made excitement their source of comfort; when the thrill is taken away, they feel the agony and loss of this transition.)

So, how can we master change? Here are some ideas that I've found to be effective (I'm continuously learning):

Attempt something novel yet safe and tiny. New things might be frightening since we worry we'll trip and fall. However, if it's something simple, like practicing beanbag juggling in our living room or learning to balance on a rope that's near the ground, it's not as frightening. Another example would be listening to a language-learning podcast. There is little chance of harm. And the more we practice doing this in little, unnerving stages, the more certain we'll get that trying new things isn't unpleasant.

Do not see mistakes as unpleasant failures when you make them.

There will be moments when you screw up, "fail," or make errors while you're learning new things. However, these terms are linked to unpleasant things like pain. Instead, begin to see "messing up" and making errors as a learning experience; it's the only way to improve. Making mistakes is a method to learn, develop, and become stronger.

Consider the magic and chance in change.

Change may include stepping outside of your comfort zone and losing something (or someone) you cherish, but it also presents a chance to discover something fantastic, learn something new, connect with someone new, and reinvent yourself. Look for the wonder and fresh opportunities that come with change.

What's the worst that might happen? It might be frightening to expose yourself, leave your familiar surroundings, and give up protection, but when you consider the worst-case scenario that could occur, it typically isn't that horrible. How horrible would it be if you today lost everything in a disaster? How would you manage? Which changes would there be? What fresh ideas can you generate from this bare canvas?

Make a collection of tools for transformation.

No matter what kind of change occurs, learn how to handle it. Have a backup plan in case everything goes wrong. Have contact numbers for your relatives and friends. No matter what happens with your present work or the economy, develop certain skills that will allow you to find employment or launch a new company. Learn how to survive on a little budget, make friends with strangers, and navigate a foreign place. With such a toolkit, you may be sure that you can manage almost everything that arises.

Learn to recognize your clinging.

Watch your tendency to cling to anything when you experience pain or anxiety. What do you hold onto? The notion of you and your love partner, or a representation of who you are, is often all it is. Recognize what is occurring.

Consider the drawbacks of holding on. When you can see your attachment, you can also recognize the suffering it causes. If you're holding on to your possessions, consider the space they take up and the additional rent they cost you. Consider the mental effort required to maintain your current lifestyle, the money you have spent, and the limited space you have. Anything you cling to has a drawback; nevertheless, since we tend to only perceive its benefits, we tend to do so.

Enjoy the excitement of the unknown.

We often see it as terrible when something new occurs and you are in the dark. Can we, however, reframe it as something happy? The options are endless since we don't know. We can create new identities, new lives, and new paths. This may bring you delight.

Happy Sunday to you all.