Harvard Business Review wrote an interesting article on not letting the uncertainties in life take a grip on you. Let's admit it, we are quite used to controlling the events / situations around us and we do fear to an extend of uncertainties and of the unknown. This pandemic is one of them, and it has wreaked havoc for sure. However, how do we learn to remain positive, productive and not let any uncertainties in life affect us too much.
Here are some tips:
1) Look at the bigger picture - don't lose the big picture.
It is not just about the situation you are facing now; what do you intend to do for the longer term? What are your options, and would you think of reinventing yourself, what you do with your time or perhaps inculcate your passion for a more purposeful journey? What will you learn out of the uncertainty / unknown situation?
“Let's go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.” - Steve Jobs
2) Be open to the possibilities that life has to offer.
Be open to the possibilities out there; when you broaden your vision, you are more open to embracing the possibilities. Scottish musician, Edwyn Collins, suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke, lost some of this memories and his active lifestyle; one of the 4 words he could utter was "the possibilities are endless". They have created a movie on his journey, titled : The possibilities are endless Keep going and don't give up regardless of the circumstances.
3) Watch your thoughts.
When we are faced with fear of the unknown, our minds may run wild, and there is a possibility of the "black and white" thinking, (also known as all-or-nothing thinking) - seeing things in the extremes. Catch these thoughts, check it and change them (re-frame):
Challenge these thoughts; it is true or not?
Words like 'never', 'every time', 'always' isn't helpful. Rethink them as 'sometimes', every now and again'.
Acknowledge and accept that life is filled with uncertainty. We don’t have all the answers all of the time. It’s completely fine to say, ‘I don’t know, I need to think about that more.’
In all things / situation, remain in the state of gratitude. Gratitude begets gratitude. "Every time we decide to be grateful, it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love" - Henri Nouwen.
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