Tackling uncertainty (Part 2)

We all react differently to uncertainty. For instance, I enjoy taking risks and have a rather adventurous outlook and don’t suffer too much from it. Yet many of us find the bad surprises of life quite distressing. This is not to say that I don’t have my moments with uncertainty, but it doesn’t poison my life too much. 

When uncertainty and worry overwhelms us, we need to remember that we're not alone; many of us are in that situation. It's also important to realize that no matter how helpless and hopeless we feel, there are steps we can take to better deal with uncontrollable circumstances, alleviate our anxiety, and face the unknown with increased confidence. 

Whether we like it or not, uncertainty is a natural and inescapable part of life. While we have control over some things, we can't control everything that happens to us. Our lives can change quickly and unpredictably. So, in order to cope with uncertainty, many of us use worrying as a tool for trying to read into the future and avoid nasty surprises; to a degree it make us feel like we have some control over an unclear future. 

We sometime believe that it will help us find a solution to our problems or prepare us for the worst. This said, chronic worrying won’t give us more control over events we don’t control; instead, it prevents us from enjoying the present, saps our energy, and keeps us up at night.

The only healthy way to live with uncertainty begins with adjusting our mindset, and this what we’ll explore next. 

To be continued...