Thriving In Uncertainty

The human life is full of so many uncertainties. A lot of people tend to want predictable paths, predictable life, stable income, guaranteed outcome, etc. But what they fail to understand is that true progress may not even happen in a place of comfort. It is the moment that tests you that may be the greatest moments for you to experience the breakthrough that you desire. This is why you have to shift your mind from the predictable, and welcome the uncertain. Change the way you think about the unknown and how you see it. Do not see it as an obstacle or something that you should fear, rather see it as a raw material that you can use to create the kind of tomorrow that you want.

In order to thrive in uncertainty, there are things you need to observe to do. Firstly, you have to shift from fear to curiosity. It is true that when faced with an unclear or uncertain future, it is a natural human tendency to respond in anxiety. They may even waste their time and energy trying to control the things that are absolutely beyond their control. But to thrive in uncertainty, you need to have a complete mental shift from responding in anxiety to curiosity. When trying out something new for example, or doing a task, instead of thinking about what could possibly go wrong, you can shift your mind to begin to think about what you could learn from the experience. In that way, you are not scared of the uncertainty, rather you are using it to your advantage. It is curiosity that will turn fear into a problem-solving scenario.

Secondly, you need to focus more on what you can control. When a sailor is on the high sea for example, and the wind becomes intense, with a wave beating against the boat, this is beyond what he can control. He cannot control how the wave will come, but he can control his own sail. When the things around you begin to look too unstable, you need to look inwards. Then break your day into manageable and actionable tasks. As a treader for example, you may not be able to control the market, but you can apply some trading precautions to maximise the market. You cannot predict how someone will treat or react to you, but you can control how to prepare yourself and how to control your emotions. So you see, learn to focus more on what you have control of.

Then you also need to employ flexibility instead of rigidity. While growing up, we were made to understand that the way to success depends on rigid and long-term planning. That is, they rely so much on the process and the methods, not on the result. However, in this era, a lot of things have changed. The result is what counts. You may spend weeks to complete a task, and someone else may spend just hours to complete the same task, who do you think is more efficient? It is true that you should have a fixed goal or a dream, but you should remain flexible in your approach. You are to commit deeply to your ultimate vision, but the process by which you get there should remain flexible.

In addition, you have to choose courage over comfort. Getting ready for the uncertainty helps you to build your confidence. Comfort zone may feel safe, but they may not support growth. But the unknown will force you to discover the hidden talents and strengths within you that you did not know you have. This may demand resourcefulness, determination, integrity, and discipline. When you successfully navigate through tough times, you will emerge with an increased confidence. The confidence of knowing that you do not need a perfect map to navigate the terrains of life, but you need to trust in your ability to figure out things along the way.

You cannot win a battle by avoiding the battle completely, but you win it by facing it with confidence. In the same way in life, you cannot stop challenges from coming, as long as you want to grow, but you can condition yourself to welcome the challenges, face them with courage and confidence, and then overcome them.

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