500 Words a Week - Embracing Uncertainty
The world has been and forever will be an uncertain tumultuous place. Our basic human need for certainty runs in direct opposition with the way of the world. But what if we could embrace uncertainty?
This call for certainty began when many of us had to decide at the age 17 what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. You were tasked with picking a college to go to study for a career, or begin your training. You couldn’t even drink alcohol yet and you had to pick what you were going to do for the next ~40-50 years.
There are a few individuals who this has worked for, they went to college, enjoyed their course, got a job related to their course and began their journey up the ladder. Or they found a job straight out of school or a traineeship and worked their way up. This is the linear career path that so many of us were taught we should follow.
There is more than one path. Tensions within start to arise when we attempt to mould ourselves into a path that doesn’t seem natural. It’s like walking around with pants two sizes too small. Sure you can still function to some degree, but your ability to fully experience life is severely hindered.
We needn’t be worried that we aren’t on this linear path. We needn’t be worried by the dead ends we find ourselves encountering, or the twists and turns life hits us with. Our path may be different from the linear one. It’s probably more common for individuals to have a slightly meandering path as they find their way through life. Yet this isn’t a message that is always communicated with us. That it is natural to try your hand at different careers, to see which glove may fit best.
When we stop feeling so sorry for ourselves about where we are or the uncertainty we feel, we experience the freedom our situation provides. The uncertainty that we were always terrified of, becomes something we cherish and embrace. We don’t know what’s around the corner, so what’s the point of our endless worrying. We start focusing on what is right in front of us? What is the next and most necessary thing we need to do in the words of Carl Jung?
When we embrace uncertainty, we become aware of all the ways we have been limiting our life trying to fight it.
Spend less time worrying and more time paying attention. Notice the signs and subtle callings you experience as you go throughout life, showing you the different paths you could travel down.
Our endless hiding from uncertainty will only bring us a further life of stagnation.
I’m currently trying to embrace this life of uncertainty, as for me I don’t want to wake up one day further down the line with the realisation that I never took a bet on myself, that I never believed in myself enough to attempt something different. Even if I fail and have to go back to a more regular job, at least I will be able to look myself in the mirror and say I tried.
You will have your own reasons, your own path, and that’s the beauty of life.
