I once saw a cartoon of a frog leaping from one lily pad to another. There’s a look of sheer terror on her face as she realizes she’s about to miss the lily pad. The caption read: Just when you think you’ve made ends meet, someone moves an end.
I suspect that a lot of people are feeling a lot like that these days. Maybe you’re one of them. Poised midair between the old and the new, wondering “What do I do now?”
Welcome to the Age of Massive Uncertainty. Recent times have played havoc with our lily pads. The present is chaotic and unfamiliar. The future is unknown and unpredictable. Your sense of security is shattered. It feels like nothing’s happening, you’re going nowhere.
Many will do anything to avoid uncertainty. As humans, we yearn for the certainty of solid ground. We’ll numb our anxiety with alcohol or overwork. Or rush head-first into a new job, another relationship.
Yet uncertainty has a powerful purpose. It’s not an empty time. It’s a fallow time, a moratorium, a vital phase in the transition process.
It is not a time to commit. It is a time to surrender, to unhook from the past, to create a new future. It is a time to feel your feelings, grieve your losses.
It’s also a time for self-reflection, connecting with your inner wisdom. Spend time alone. Write in a journal. Mull over ideas. Share feelings with friends. Explore possibilities.
How long does uncertainty last? For some, mere days. Others, several months. Still others, even longer. A lot depends on your willingness to tolerate ambiguity. The more you can allow, even embrace uncertainty, the less time you’ll need to spend there.
But rest assured, uncertainty won’t last forever. It’s only a temporary phase. At some point, you’ll begin to feel a fresh burst of energy, a renewed optimism, a sense of clarity and direction. Opportunities will appear. Loose ends will come together. And out of the chaos of uncertainty, new beginnings will emerge.
How do you deal with uncertainty? Leave me a comment below.
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