Being uncertain can be a terrifying thing. There’s something comforting about knowing exactly what’s going to happen from one day to the next – even if it’s not particularly exciting.
Humans are naturally predisposed to fear the uncertain. Before we lived in the comfortable houses of today, many uncertain things were relatively dangerous. If we didn’t know whether an animal, berry, or other item was safe, we generally needed to stay away from it.
Although we don’t have the same threats today as we once did, the concept of the uncertain is still frightening. Even if something might not kill us, we know there are various ways things can cause us harm or discomfort.
However, the truth is that while uncertainty is nerve wracking, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Let’s explore the benefits of embracing uncertainty.
Uncertainty and Control: The Connection
In general, we like to feel as though we’re in control. The more we know about a situation, the safer we feel. This is why it’s so difficult to be uncertain. If we don’t know what’s going to happen when we arrive late to work or ask someone out on a date, we automatically assume the worst.
Our minds are wired to envision horrible outcomes, rather than allowing us to wonder what the positives of an uncertain situation might be.
Controlling how you respond to uncertainty means learning how to cope with being out of control. This is an important skill to have in a world where it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen in your life 100% of the time.
No matter how hard you try or how well you plan, there’s always a risk that something won’t go according to your expectations. By learning to live with uncertainty, you discover that you can cope with whatever life throws at you – no matter what.
Why Is Uncertainty a Good Thing?
Though you might not immediately like it, learning to live with uncertainty isn’t just important – it’s valuable too. Uncertainty doesn’t have to be a horrible and gut-wrenching thing. It can be an opportunity to explore realms outside of your comfort zone.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of uncertainty:
● It’s exciting: Knowing exactly what’s going to happen every moment of your life might feel safe, but it’s also pretty boring. If we didn’t have uncertainty in the world, our lives would become pretty monotonous.
Imagine knowing every gift you’re ever going to get, or every amazing day you’re going to have in advance.
Uncertainty can lead to uncomfortable experiences, but it’s also a crucial ingredient of surprise, which can sometimes be positive. Having uncertainty in your life allows you to really enjoy the wonders of not knowing.
● It ensures growth: Facing uncertainty is a lot like facing your fears. It might seem painful and uncomfortable at first, but it also pushes you to challenge your limits. You’ll never accomplish much if you spend your entire life inside your comfort zone.
You need to get out and try new things if you’re going to discover anything. Forcing yourself to take risks and dive into uncertainty means you get a chance to grow.
You never know, you might find a new skill or discover a passion you never knew about before.
● It helps you appreciate the world: Ultimately, uncertainty and the presence of it in our lives helps us to see just how diverse the world can be.
When you know that virtually anything could happen to or around you on a day-to-day basis, you start to appreciate the good experiences a lot more. Think about all the times you’ve ever thought you were really lucky.
You wouldn’t have those experiences without a little uncertainty to begin with.
Uncertainty Makes Life Exciting
Ultimately, a lot of people worry about what might happen to them when they’re “uncertain” about a specific outcome in their life. Feeling unsure can also feel a lot like being out of control, and that’s not something that everyone is comfortable with.
However, you don’t have to feel comfortable with uncertainty in order to see the benefits that it can bring.
If you knew absolutely everything about your life and the world around you, you’d never discover new things or learn anything interesting. The fact that you’re always a little unsure is part of what pushes you to keep testing the world and yourself.
The next time you find yourself avoiding something you're uncertain about, ask yourself if you’re avoiding the situation because it’s not right for you or because you’re concerned that you can’t handle the uncertainty. It might be time to rediscover your relationship with uncertainty, and try something new.
