How to cope with uncertainty in life

How can we cope with uncertainty in life when we instinctively resist it? We want to know what will happen and we want to be prepared. Unfortunately, the way the world is leaves us with very little in the way of certainty…so what can we do to cope?

Acceptance

Part of dealing with uncertainty involves learning to accept that, no matter how much we fight against it, life will always be uncertain in many ways. Learning to accept this and work with it will leave you more at peace and will help you to work with it than against it.

Stop looking outwards for security

We often try to find security by seeking reassurance or by looking for validation and approval from others. This is fine but it is only a temporary fix. Learn to start believing in yourself more, give yourself the reassurance and trust yourself more. The more you cultivate inner strength and resilience, the ‘safer’ you will feel.

Be more willing to hang out with uncertainty

Embrace uncertainty – make a habit of going to new places and speaking to strangers. The mre you place yourself in situations that are strange and/or new, the better you become at coping with diversity and new experiences. This adds to self confidence and assists in feeling that you can cope with the challenges life throws at you.

Look for the lesson

Being philosophical about life is a good way to learn, become wiser, adapt and learn for past mistakes. When life is tough, ask yourself if there is a lesson in the experience? Post traumatic growth is personal growth that comes from the hard lessons life sends us. So even in the darkest times, there will be some level of personal shifting going on and a wiser understanding of the world will come from it. It will also teach you that you are stronger than you thought you were.

Stop judging and evaluating

Sometimes it helps to just see the experiences you go through as part of life’s process rather than as good or bad. Seeing the life lesson by looking at each experience as part of gaining your ‘life credits’ may help you to feel less angry, bitter or unhappy. We all have tough times as we can support each other to get through this thing called “life”.

Trust your instincts, trust the feelings within you rather than always seeking out certainty. Trying to feel certainty will exhaust you so get into the habit of seeing life as one big mad adventure. Don’t take your thoughts too seriously, keep a sense of humour and learn to like uncertainty. Thus may sound mad but if you have positive beliefs around uncertainty, it won;t frighten you half as much!

Mandy X

Author: Mandy Kloppers

Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.