Embracing Uncertainty: Unlocking Infinite Possibilities in Life
By Joy Stephenson-Laws, Holistic Coach, J.D., Founder
Introduction: The Human Desire for Certainty
In today's fast-paced world, the pursuit of certainty is deeply ingrained. We meticulously plan careers, relationships, and finances, always seeking guarantees of success and stability. This need for predictability arises from our innate desire for control and safety. Psychologically, humans prefer the known over the unknown because it reduces anxiety and provides comfort. However, an over-reliance on certainty paradoxically limits our potential and inhibits personal growth.
The Pitfalls of Overplanning
While planning provides direction and helps us set goals, excessive planning can lead to rigidity and disappointment. When we become overly attached to specific outcomes, adapting to unforeseen circumstances becomes challenging, resulting in missed opportunities and heightened stress.
Real-Life Examples of Pursuing Certainty
Career Choices: Individuals often select career paths based purely on job security or financial stability, ignoring their true passions. This short-term comfort frequently leads to dissatisfaction and long-term unhappiness.
Relationships: People sometimes remain in relationships that no longer bring growth or joy simply because they offer predictability. The fear of unknown outcomes prevents them from pursuing healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Financial Decisions: Investors frequently choose low-risk, low-yield opportunities to avoid uncertainty, missing out on substantial financial growth that riskier ventures might offer.
Psychological Need for Closure
Discomfort with uncertainty is linked to a psychological concept known as "need for closure," where individuals seek definite answers and avoid ambiguity. A high need for closure can prompt hasty decision-making and limit openness to new experiences, increasing stress levels and potentially leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Benefits of Embracing Uncertainty
Contrary to popular belief, uncertainty can yield several significant advantages:
Enhanced Creativity: Uncertainty stimulates innovative thinking, allowing exploration of numerous possibilities.
Personal Growth: Facing uncertainty fosters resilience and adaptability, crucial skills for life's ever-changing landscape.
Opportunities for Discovery: Releasing rigid plans opens unexpected avenues that enrich life experiences.
Eckhart Tolle's Insight
Renowned spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle beautifully captures this notion:
“When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.”
Tolle highlights that much suffering arises from resistance to the unknown. By relinquishing our need for certainty, we align with life's deeper rhythm, opening ourselves to expansive potential previously obscured by fear-driven attachment to familiarity.
Insights from Influential Authors
Jonathan Fields (Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance): Fields introduces "certainty anchors," which are routines or rituals that provide emotional stability in uncertain times. He advocates viewing uncertainty not as a threat but as a powerful catalyst for innovation and creativity. Fields emphasizes that embracing uncertainty is critical for exceptional achievement and meaningful growth.
Susan Jeffers (Embracing Uncertainty): Jeffers encourages us to shift our mindset by accepting uncertainty as an inherent part of life. She provides practical exercises, including visualization and affirmations, designed to transform anxiety into peace and optimism. Jeffers highlights that accepting uncertainty can lead to emotional freedom and improved overall well-being.
Pema Chödrön (Comfortable with Uncertainty): Chödrön draws from Buddhist teachings to encourage readers to embrace uncertainty through mindfulness, compassion, and present-moment awareness. She teaches that true growth arises when we let go of our attachment to control and fully experience life’s uncertainties. According to Chödrön, uncertainty is an opportunity for cultivating deeper spiritual insights and fearlessness.
Real-Life Example: My Journey of Embracing Uncertainty
Over forty years ago, I faced a pivotal decision: maintain predictable security or step boldly into uncertainty by starting my own law firm. Without financial backing, loans, or extensive guidance, conventional wisdom would have discouraged such a risk. Yet, within me was a strong inner knowing—a deep intuitive trust that everything would be okay.
That decision, rooted in embracing uncertainty, profoundly shaped my life. My comfort with uncertainty even influenced my firm's fee structure, as I chose to charge clients only if I won their cases. This contingency-based arrangement was unconventional, considering the inherent unpredictability of legal outcomes. Yet, this very approach has built trust, fostered deep client relationships, and led to long-term success. Four decades later, my firm thrives precisely because I was willing to embrace uncertainty rather than fearing it.
Additional Real-Life Examples
Steve Jobs' Apple Journey: Jobs embraced uncertainty by leaving college and exploring unconventional paths like calligraphy and Eastern philosophy, eventually revolutionizing the tech industry.
J.K. Rowling's Literary Success: Rowling faced rejection and uncertainty, yet persisted, ultimately creating the iconic "Harry Potter" series.
Oprah Winfrey’s Career: Oprah frequently stepped into the unknown, making bold career moves that redefined her success and influence.
Scientific Support
Research underscores the benefits of accepting uncertainty. Studies, including those by Grupe and Nitschke (2013), indicate that tolerance for uncertainty reduces anxiety and fosters resilience. Additional research by Furnham and Marks (2013) links ambiguity tolerance with higher creativity and adaptability.
Strategies to Embrace Uncertainty
To effectively navigate uncertainty:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Regular practice cultivates presence, reduces anxiety, and prepares you to calmly face uncertainty.
Incremental Risk-Taking: Gradually exposing yourself to small uncertainties builds resilience and confidence.
Reframe Thinking: Approach uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat. Foster curiosity-driven attitudes.
Create Certainty Anchors: Establish stable routines or rituals to ground yourself emotionally amid unpredictability.
Conclusion: Infinite Possibilities Await
Embracing uncertainty opens doors to unlimited opportunities. Rather than seeking absolute certainty, we should strive for openness, flexibility, and trust. As my personal and professional experiences demonstrate, leaning into uncertainty doesn't diminish our effectiveness—it magnifies it, enabling authentic growth, creativity, and lasting fulfillment. When we become comfortable with the unknown, we align ourselves with life's profound potential, opening pathways to infinite possibilities.
Sources
Tolle, Eckhart. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library, 1999. https://www.newworldlibrary.com/Books/ProductDetails/tabid/64/SKU/10814/Default.aspx
Tolle, Eckhart. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Penguin Books, 2005. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/295924/a-new-earth-by-eckhart-tolle/
Fields, Jonathan. Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance. Portfolio/Penguin, 2012. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/308641/uncertainty-by-jonathan-fields/
Jeffers, Susan. Embracing Uncertainty: Breakthrough Methods for Achieving Peace of Mind When Facing the Unknown. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2003. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312325831/embracinguncertainty
Chödrön, Pema. Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion. Shambhala Publications, 2003. https://www.shambhala.com/comfortable-with-uncertainty.html
Grupe, Dan W., and Jack B. Nitschke. “Uncertainty and Anticipation in Anxiety: An Integrated Neurobiological and Psychological Perspective.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 14, no. 7, 2013, pp. 488–501. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3524
Furnham, Adrian, and Joseph Marks. “Tolerance of Ambiguity: A Review of the Recent Literature.” Psychology, vol. 4, no. 9, 2013, pp. 717–728. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2013.49102