Uncertainty always lingers. It doesn’t matter how sure of ourselves we are. There will always be things that are out of our control. Uncertainty can hold you back. But there are some ways to move forward even in the face of the unknown.
I struggled with fear and paranoia when I was younger. I’ve dealt with many situations that were out of my control. And I’ve learned that there are ways of dealing with uncertainty.
This blog is an uncertain journey. At the beginning of the summer, I decided to post a little less often because I was feeling uncertain about the direction of Hip Diggs. Summer is almost over and I’m still not sure where I’m going. But I won’t let uncertainty stop me. I’ll keep writing and see where it leads.
6 Ways To Move Forward When You’re Not Sure
- Admit that you do not have control: There are some things in life we can control. But there are many more things that we can’t control. You can’t control other people’s actions or reactions. You can’t control the weather or the traffic. And you surely can’t control a genetic disease. Admit it! Bad shit could happen at any moment.
- Accept that you do not have control: Here’s the problem. Many of us want to try to control the uncontrollable. All this does is cause frustration and fear. When we try to control something that is out of our control, we put too much focus on that thing. I could worry about falling and breaking my leg. But then I would avoid walking and running. I have to accept that some things are out of my control to reduce fear and uncertainty.
- Evaluate what you can do: What do you do when it rains on your outdoor party? You move under shelter. You reevaluate the situation and find a solution. Even when things are out of your control, there are always options.
- Write about it: When I was going through a divorce and child custody battle, I constantly wrote about the situation. Writing helped me to see that even though much was out of my control, I still had the power to make daily choices for both myself and my daughter. That allowed me to do what was best at the moment.
- Be here and now: When we worry about the uncertainty of things, we are living in the future or dwelling on the past. We become crippled by fear. But when we live in the present moment we can move forward, even in the face of fear.
- Take small steps: You don’t have to jump. You can take small steps into unknown territory. If you want to move to a new state, but you’re unsure, take some small trips first. Then you can learn more about the place before you make a decision.
Think Of Uncertainty As A Gift
What if we looked at uncertainty as a gift? When someone gives us a gift, we don’t know what it is until we unwrap it. Uncertainty is similar. We don’t know what’s going to happen each day until we live it.
I don’t think I would ever want complete certainty in my life. Where’s the adventure in that? Life is a journey. It’s full of gifts. Uncertainty is one of those gifts.
So what about Hip Diggs? Am I still in a season of discontent? No and yes. That feeling of discontent comes and goes with uncertainty. I’m not certain what I’ll write for my next blog post. That can make me question myself. What kind of writer doesn’t know what to write? Should I even bother? If I don’t know what I’m doing, who’s going to want to read? That’s the fear talking. The solution is to just keep writing.
So I’ll be returning to my old schedule of two posts each week for the next few months.
Do you write? Would you like to start?
Start journaling. You’ll develop your writing skills while learning about yourself and the world around you. If you’d like more writing or blogging help, I currently have some coaching spots open. If you’d like more information, email me at danerickson@danerickson.net.
