How to Cope with Uncertainty?

Though much in the course of our lives is out of our control, the key to dealing with the uncertainties of the future lies in our intrinsic power... Living in a world full of uncertainty and change, it's easy to become anxious and stressed about what the future holds...

But by continually surrendering our lives to these emotions, we become vulnerable to becoming physically, mentally and emotionally consumed in the maelstrom of the unknown. Instead of being distracted from our inner strength by the fear of uncertainty, how wonderful it would be if we could embrace the moment with awareness and learn to live deliberately, trusting in the journey ahead...

The Role of Uncertainty in Our Lives

Uncertainty is inherent in life. The reality of existence lies in the fact that everything is always changing and nothing is absolute. In the unpredictability of what the next year, month, day or even minute will bring... Future is the inevitable epitome of uncertainty in our flow.

As Einstein put it: “The only thing we can be certain of in this life is that we can be certain of nothing.”

On the other hand, the desire for certainty and security are deeply ingrained in us. Just like our ancestors, we need stability to ensure a better life for ourselves and our loved ones, and thus we crave certainty about our future. And this is quite normal... After all, our minds need clarity to perceive and respond to threats. In this sense, it is understandable that it sees uncertainty as a kind of ‘enemy’. Yet, the problem starts when we get stuck in uncertainty…

When this happens, we are likely to become susceptible to believing the worst-case scenarios in our minds and internalizing them as if they were happening in real life. We grow blind to the present moment and the creative potential we have in that moment, and begin doubting ourselves. This sense of insecurity leads us to seek external validation, to check and double-check everything and to postpone our decisions/actions to avoid taking risks. It induces us to ignore ourselves, setting the stage for a decline in our holistic health. As a result, we slip into a vicious mental cycle of negative action-reaction, and when faced with a truly threatening situation, we feel like we are starting our “fight” 1-0 behind.

Learning to Cope with Uncertainty

So how can we learn to live with uncertainty without making it our enemy? We share approaches we have found useful:

Identifying uncertainty triggers: There are countless areas in life that can cause uncertainty, including global events, financial stability, social relationships and health concerns. It is uncertainty triggers that push us to make decisions at the intersections of our flow. Even our hesitation between being at home or going out during the day can fuel uncertainty. It is therefore valuable to first turn inward and identify the triggers that feed uncertainty. As only then can we make room to respond to them in a way that is true to our essence.

Accepting the reality of uncertainty: The truth is, we can't go back even a second. And every step into the future is like moving beyond familiar horizons into unknown territory... But trying to resist it neither eliminates uncertainty nor makes us feel better. On the contrary, it may even delay our process of coping with uncertainty. After all, “what we resist persists”. The alternative is to accept that nothing can stay the same forever. It is not about submitting to uncertainty, but about meeting it as it is and learning to move forward from there. Understanding that where controlling logic deadlocks, intuition carries on... In fact, we intuitively accept uncertainty in many of our daily actions, like getting on the road or starting a job. Uncertainty is inevitable and is with us as long as we are alive. Only if we come to terms with this can we take a step towards breaking free from the paralyzing effects of anxiety about uncertainty and live life more fully and true to our true selves.

Embracing the feelings accompanying uncertainty: Accepting uncertainty requires recognizing the reactions it evokes in us. In other words, allowing ourselves to experience the emotions that come with uncertainty, right down to our darkest and most uncomfortable feelings. And these reactions are highly individual. There is no right or wrong way how and how much we "carry" uncertainty. We may feel resentment, anger, fear or anxiety. We may panic or become numb. All these sensations are valid because they express our authentic selves. Recognizing our feelings as they are enables us to accept ourselves and our inner power non-judgmentally and with compassion.

Recognizing the value of being present: One of the most fundamental keys to dealing with uncertainty is to be present. It is about paying attention to what is happening right now, rather than trying to predict what might happen in the future. For as long as we are alive, we have the choice of when and what we pay attention to. If we can only pay attention to what is happening right now, who we are with, where we are and what we are doing, as well as our thoughts, feelings and actions in the moment, we can distance ourselves from the “what ifs” in our minds and reflect upon the full picture of our inner reality. 

Incorporating mindfulness practices into our lives: Mindfulness is our focused awareness on the present moment. Practicing these exercises regularly allows us to transform our awareness of ‘being present’, which can feel challenging at first, into the habit of ‘staying present’ over time. And in the face of difficulties, it paves the way for our inner light to shine on our creative power.

• Meditation: This practice involves sitting quietly and attending to ourselves for as long as we wish, focusing on the breath. Our attention can remain on the breath throughout the meditation, or it can shift to a tranquil sound, a calm image or other sensation. Our mind may also wander between thoughts, which is normal... Mindfulness meditation is not about quieting the mind, but about calming our racing thoughts and gently returning our attention again and again to our breath, sensation or the core.
• Grounding exercises: Grounding exercises in nature, such as meditation, yoga, walking barefoot on the earth and forest bathing, help us connect with the present moment by engaging all of our senses and allows us to better understand our emotions and reactions to uncertainty.
• Bhastrika pranayama: Literally focused on “bellowing” our inner energy, this yogic practice helps to reorganize our dosha balance and become centered, along with its many contributions. It is recommended to be done in an active exhalation and passive inhalation method that includes a series of Kapalabhati breaths followed by a round of Surya Bhedana exercises. Being one of the most powerful practices to awaken the feminine Kundalini energy at our core, this pranayama technique can support us in both returning to the moment and attuning to the flow, clarifying the mind as well as connecting with our wise inner power. 
• Journal: Journaling allows us to see our inner world honestly on paper and read what we write to discover how we feel about it. It therefore helps us to gain clarity in the face of uncertainty and to understand how to refocus our thoughts in a healthier way.

Focusing on responsibilities in our own field: When faced with uncertainty, we may feel overwhelmed and want to run away. But running away does not bring us a solution. Sure, there will be times when our strength does not suffice. But even before we determine that we need help, we should first reflect on ourselves and understand our reality. And to trust the flow and connect to our intuition... It is only then that we can sense the true power within us. And then we can step forward with healthy choices suitable for the moment and in tune with our soul. And we can learn to approach triggers carefully, without getting caught up in them. 

Taking responsibility for others in times of uncertainty is not a solution either. Rather, not only does it make them more discouraged and disconnected, it also diminishes our ability to deal with the uncertainties in our own flow. So focusing on what we can do in the present moment, within our own capacity and means, and releasing ourselves from responsibilities that don't belong to us, will help us get closer to our essence.

Seeing uncertainty from different horizons: Nothing alive can remain constant, they are in flow. And with flow comes uncertainty. Even life itself is uncertain. Every day is a new chapter that breaks out of the cycles of repetition. A kind of rebirth. And so are we... As human beings, it is in our nature to be curious, to try new things, to do the unexpected and to "change". As such, uncertainty opens the door not only to risky situations, but also to new opportunities, hopes and creativity. Uncertainty is also a teacher... Throughout history, it has made it easier for us to adapt to change and make healthier choices through trial and error. Even the fears we feel in uncertainty can be useful, because it helps us to understand how much our intentions express us and to find the courage within. We just need to be able to approach uncertainty from different horizons...

Improving our holistic resilience to uncertainty: The best resource we have to contribute to our lives is always ourselves... If this resource is overtaxed physically, mentally or spiritually, our most valuable asset is worn out. That's why self-care is not only valuable, it's necessary... When we can integrate self-care holistically into our life flow, we can connect with our inner resilience, flexibility and creativity. And when we can ritualize it in a way that is true to the self, we can learn to grow with uncertainty...

Finally, accepting uncertainty, remembering to take care of ourselves and embracing being present not only keeps our physical and mental being in balance, but also helps us to reconnect with our higher self and develop a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in our lives.

Let’s embrace our life journey as open-heartedly as possible, trusting in the wisdom of flow!