3 Ways to Confidently Handle Uncertainty
The unknown is usually the hardest part of any situation. Maybe you’ve just accepted a new job and you start next week. Maybe you had blood work drawn and you’re waiting to receive the results back. Or perhaps you’re pregnant and wondering what life will be like when the baby arrives. Whatever it is, the unknown can be a scary and anxiety provoking place. The good news is that you can become more adept at handling the unknown by implementing these skills into your daily life:
1. Trust the process:
It’s important to trust the process and know that everything is temporary. Everything in life is a phase and part of a process. Understanding this concept can help give you great perspective on the journey while you’re in an uncertain situation. Just keep reminding yourself that “this is temporary” and it will help get you through these times, knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2. Re-frame the narrative:
You get to decide your narrative. You have the power to take any situation and turn it around into something positive. How empowering is that? Think of this uncertain time as exciting. It might still feel stressful, but why not add some excitement in there too? What about viewing this uncertain time as a challenge or even a fun adventure? You don’t have to live in this scary place full of only negative emotions. Allow yourself to feel both positive emotions while also accepting that the difficult emotions are OK to feel too. On that note, see #3 below.
3. Embrace the uncomfortable:
Accept that you are going to feel uncomfortable and embrace the anxiety! You will always have uncomfortable situations happening in your life. Perhaps some are more stressful than others, but uncertainty is a part of our everyday lives and that’s why learning to tolerate it is so important. Let’s take job hunting as an example. Instead of thinking “this is really stressful, I have to know where and when I’ll get a job” re-frame it and say to yourself, “I know I’ll be anxious not knowing or not having all the answers, but that’s OK. Let me focus on tolerating that.” Allow yourself to sit with the uncertainty and make room to embrace the unknown. In turn, that discomfort will start to naturally decrease on its own.
As they say, the only thing certain in life is uncertainty. There is uncertainty in everything and it’s not a pleasant feeling. It’s difficult. You can’t control everything, but you can learn how to better tolerate uncertainty and, in doing so, you’ll feel more grounded and confident everyday.