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Embracing The Unknown
Sue Dhillon
February 11, 2025
Hello there friend,
Edvard Munch - Solenintro
With all of the uncertainty that life brings on a regular basis I’m wondering if you’ve ever noticed how much mental energy we spend trying to predict, control, and eliminate uncertainty from our lives? From checking the weather forecast multiple times a day to obsessing over "what-if" scenarios, it seems our resistance to uncertainty often creates more stress than the uncertainty itself.
This week, I want to explore a counterintuitive truth: learning to be at peace with uncertainty isn't just possible—it's transformative.
Why We Fear Uncertainty
So why do we fear it so much? Well pretty simple. Our brains are wired to crave certainty. It's a survival mechanism that helped our ancestors stay safe. But in today's world, this instinct often ends up working against us. We try to plan everything, predict all the outcomes, and maintain constant control. Yet life has a way of consistently reminding us that change and uncertainty are the only true constants.
What if we could see uncertainty not as our enemy, but as a doorway to possibility? Think about it: every great adventure, breakthrough, or meaningful connection started with stepping into the unknown. Uncertainty is the space where creativity flourishes, where growth happens, and where life's most beautiful surprises unfold.
When we learn to sit comfortably with uncertainty, we:
Release the exhausting need to control everything
Become more adaptable and resilient
Open ourselves to unexpected opportunities
Experience more genuine presence in our daily lives
Reduce anxiety about the future
This Week's Practice: The Uncertainty Journal
This week, I invite you to engage in a deeper exploration of uncertainty through intentional observation and reflection. Here's the practice:
Choose one uncertain situation in your life—perhaps a pending decision, an upcoming change, or an ongoing challenge. Each evening, spend 5-10 minutes documenting:
What specific sensations, emotions, and thoughts come up for you when you sit with this uncertainty?
What assumptions are you making about needing to know or control the outcome?
What small actions did you take today or are you committing to taking despite not having all the answers?
The goal isn't to wipe out uncertainty or even to feel comfortable with it. Instead, we're developing a deeper understanding of our relationship with uncertainty. Notice how your experience of uncertainty shifts simply through the act of observing it with curiosity rather than resistance.
As you practice, you might discover that uncertainty isn't a solid wall blocking your path—it's more like a fog you can move through, one step at a time.
Your Reflection Prompt
As you engage with the Uncertainty Journal this week, notice: What happens when you bring genuine curiosity to your experience of uncertainty, rather than trying to change or fix it? What does uncertainty have to teach you about yourself?
A Closing Thought
Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate the discomfort of uncertainty—it's to build a friendly relationship with it. Like learning to swim, we don't conquer the water; we learn to move with it.
Until next week, may you find peace in the present moment, even when the future isn't clear.
With warmth and encouragement,
Sue
P.S. If this resonated with you, I'd love to hear about your experience journaling about it. Reply to this email and share your insights!
P.S.S. As you know I’m big on journaling and a lot of the growth work we do encourages grabbing that journal and getting down to business. For the ultimate journals check these out.
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