4 Steps To Deal With Uncertainty

Even if we do our best, there’s still uncertainty in life.

I’ve come close several times, but I’ve never had something happen to me 100% the way I thought it would be.

I’ve always been the type to have plans, and get uncomfortable when they don’t happen.

And It’s been hard.  Especially when the stakes are huge.

How do you deal with uncertainty in your life?

 

Know More

Identify what it is specifically you’re uncertain about.

Identify how not knowing makes you feel, and how knowing would make you feel.

If you’re able to get clear on what it is you’re uncertain about, then it becomes easier for you to then take steps to knowing more about what it is you’re uncertain about?

If it remains a vague thought and feeling, then the uncertainty lingers and stays, not lessens.

Uncertainty breeds more uncertainty.

Knowing, information, and clarity breeds confidence.

And just clarifying and identifying what’s not clear, is already a big step towards dealing with uncertainty.

 

Make Plans

By making plans and preparing well, you eliminate a lot of uncertainty as well, especially when you go and actually DO what you want to do.

Get clear on the end goal, what it is, and how you’re going to get there.  Identify the steps and actions needed to create the outcome that you want.

Plans also alleviate uncertainty because making one forces you to think through the uncertainty, and think about what can possibly be done to reach the goal.

Just remember when making plans, to be as specific as possible when identifying the goal, and identifying the action steps.  Use the SMART Framework, where the goal and action steps are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound.

 

Accept the Uncertainty

Because there will always be uncertainty, one way to deal with it is to accept its presence, and potential impact.

Factor it in when you make plans, and even make back-up plans to your plans.  Have a plan B, contingencies for the possible outcomes you can have.

Accepting uncertainty also means to be free from the result.  Of course it’s better if you got what you wanted, but you would still be ok even if you didn’t get what you wanted.

Otherwise, you become hostage to the result, and then the uncertainty can then take a deeper hold on you and affect you negatively.

 

Have Faith

It’s about letting go.  Doing your best, and then hoping that the rest will follow.

This doesn’t mean letting it all up to chance, to uncertainty to fulfill the goal.  Its about doing the steps needed to reach the goal, in the hopes of increasing the chances of reaching your goal.

You’re not only having faith that the outcome you want is created, you’re having faith that the steps and actions that you take will create the wanted outcome.  It’s having faith in the action, in the process, that will yield the result.

Having faith isn’t passive.  It’s active.

Think about it, if you had faith that your actions would lead to your wanted result, wouldn’t you go full force at doing the actions?

 

It’s all about choices

Dealing with uncertainty in life, is choosing to accept it, and taking steps to ensure you don’t get bothered and beaten by it.

We always have a choice with how we react to uncertainty.  We can let what we don’t know take control over our thinking and actions, or use our thinking and actions to deal with the uncertainty in our lives.

Choose wisely.

 

How do you deal with uncertainty?  Please share in the comments below!