Given how life is at the moment – like a never-ending series of ‘may bes’ – it’s easy to be uncertain about the future. We can choose to chew our fingers to the bone or start facing uncertainty with ease.
Facing Uncertainty with Ease
Read on to discover over 5 actionable tips to deal with the struggles of going through those tough phases.
Ditch Expectations & Focus on Plans
The reason why most of us tend to end up disappointed and unhappy is simply because we build expectations– from other people, ourselves and life in general. The idea behind living life must not be to expect- it should be to work and focus on plans and goals. Spend time on what you can actually do rather than crossing your fingers and hoping for things to work.
Embrace & Let Go
One of the simplest ways to deal with uncertainty is to embrace the situation over which we have no control. This may be a difficult to do, but it is absolutely necessary. When faced with uncertainty, a lot of us tend to overthink and paint a worse picture of the situation than it really is. Remind yourself that the situation you are in right now has come to you to teach you some valuable lessons. Embrace it instead of struggling with it.
Build your Coping Skills
Each one of us has a unique coping mechanism when it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety- some may be healthy, and others not so much. Focus on building some healthy ways to cope with uncertainty in your life- experiment with different techniques and see what works best for you. For some, it may be meditation, for others, it may be pet therapy and for some others, journaling may help!
Observe your Feelings
You’ll be surprised at how much this little technique can work wonders in changing things. Pay attention to your feelings about the situation rather than the situation itself. Try to analyze it- how it arises, what aggravates it and what makes those uncomfortable feelings go away. The more you observe your feelings, the better you will be able to understand and work on yourself.
Don’t Dwell
Easier said than done right? Well, it does take some time and serious effort to develop the ability to be detached from situations, especially negative ones, but you can actually do it- if you want to! Try to look for healthy distractions that help you avoid fixating on your problems. Focus on actions that help you better yourself on an individual level- not necessarily pertaining to the situation you’re going through.
Practise Mindfulness
Practising mindfulness on a daily basis can really transform your life in more ways than one. It can make you a healthier person- both physically and mentally, and yes, also help you face uncertainty. The more you are able to master the ability to live in the moment and appreciate it, the more you’ll be able to tackle your fears about the future and things that you have little or no control over.
This is your list, not mine, but I think I would add some form of practicing random, or intentional acts of kindness because in the midst of all of us, we need ways to help us cope and one way might adding some positive act that is not about is. Mindfulness could be the key to get some folks there. Thanks for these great and helpful suggestions. Blessings, Michele
Please forgive the typos.. I was trying to say, in the midst of all of this…. and adding some postive act that is not about US.
Accepting the situation for what it is and not getting overly obsessed about it or attached to it can bring us some peace of mind. This was a great piece of advice.
Observing our feelings closely, noting what sets the trigger and what does if take to calm down – this is a great tip Corrine.
Great advice — I’ve just passed this on to my teenage daughter!! #MSTL
These uncertain times call for us to look at our actions and wend our way through the challenging days. Your tips are all sensible and doable! #mlstl
Hi Corinne – great advice and all things I’ve been learning about over the last few years (blogging has really helped me connect with others who have shown me the way!) Not dwelling is a big one for me and also allowing the situation to be what it is and not expecting it to be different – expectations can be huge downers when they aren’t met!
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM
Hi Corinne, I’ve had to let go recently of certain areas in my life as I was just trying to do too much. It certainly helps to step back and incorporate the points you have raised in your post. Thanks for some practical advice on coping not just during the pandemic but also for life in general. Lovely to have you join us at #MLSTL.x
Gradually, I am learning to stop expecting from others. It is actually making me happier. Your posts are always so inspiring.
Looking for healthy distractions has always worked for me. It has helped me to learn new skills too. I still struggle with practicing mindfulness though. Too many things going inside my head
And you’re so good at all the skills you learn! The point is to let the stuff go on in your head and not to fight it while meditating.
Such a good one and I wish I was able to do all of this. I do try and some days I do well. Some, I fail. But like you rightly said, there are many may-bes and it’s only in our interest that we stay put, positive and cope. thank you for the reminder!
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Thoughtful pointers to be in positive state and to grow in this phase…loved reading them. Thanks!