Conquering the Fear of Uncertainty

“We live in a world of uncertainty” – very cliché but we cannot contest that it’s true. You wake up in the morning and on your way to the bathroom, you might slip and fall at your back. Then you’ll eat your breakfast and as you turn on the microwave on, it may just not work as expected, then you starve. You go outside and the sun’s heat may be more scorching than yesterday, then the next day it’s pouring, and the following day, you’re ill. You cross the streets but who knows if a vehicle will hit you. You go to work but it could be your last day. You go to sleep without the assurance that you’ll see the sun the next day.

This uncertainty develops fear – and we often see it as the enemy of success. This is the reason why people settle in their comfort zones. When we were young, we dream of becoming a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, or even an astronaut but as we grow up, we tend to settle in modest jobs – not because we lost our dreams but simply because we have decided to  grasp whatever is more certain. Something that could pay the bills without requiring too much from us and push us to our limits. The bigger the dream, the bigger the fear of taking a leap to transform it into a reality.

Uncertainty: The Best Friend of Success

Think about how your life would look like if you already know what’s going to happen next. You might see it as a meaningless pursuit, especially if you are not seeing a bright future  ahead. But because life offers endless possibilities, you get to discover the abilities that you have and face the challenges that might be along the way to achieve the best possible outcomes that you can think of.  This courage to take that leap separates the superstars from the wannabees, the achievers from the dreamers, and the winners from the losers.

Using that Fear as a Fuel

I mentioned earlier that we used to dream big when we were young, but as we grow and walk through life, a layer of filter  keeps on covering our clear vision little by little until we can see nothing but darkness – the most common fear among many of us. Each layer might be coming from the experiences of others, our own experiences, or the failure to experience what we are supposed to. Here are some tips on using the  experience of others, your personal experiences, or your inexperience to face your fear towards uncertainty.

1. Use Other’s  Stories as Examples

   We are no longer living in an era where everything is a puzzle to figure out. You can read through a lot of success  stories and even stories of failure that would teach you important values to deal with your present situations. It’s good to be an audience sometimes and see how the characters would deal with the conflicts in their story.

2. Accept the Fact that their Story is not Your Story

   Overdoing the first step will be dangerous, especially if your trying to do the exact same things that the character did. Remember that you have a different set of casts, setting, and plot. What worked for them may not work for you, not because you are doing it wrong, but mainly because it just a different scenario. Accepting this will also allow you to recognize that their failure does not automatically mean your failure just because you are on a similar situation.

3. Recognize and Manage your Emotions

   Uncertainty is mainly driven by your emotions and most of the time, the feeling of uncertainty is temporary – based on your current situation or the situation of others. Once these situations are over, you would notice that your fear will also die down eventually. Choose to be objective when emotional triggers come and decide to focus on what you really wanted to achieve.

4. Conquering Your Fear Requires a Deep Commitment

   Your passion to realize your dreams require a tremendous amount of commitment. It requires hard work to overcome challenges that would typically break other people’s spirits. When these challenges come, be willing and ready to get back on the horse, reflect on the lessons that you’ve learned, and continue the journey.

5. Focus on Your Steps Towards Your Goals (even the tiny ones)

   If you are committed to realizing your dreams, you need to make concrete steps towards them These steps does not need to be big leaps, even the small ones count. This will keep you focused on what you are doing for  your dreams instead of focusing on what could potentially add up to your fears. You would notice that your small actions bring you closer to your goals and lessens your fear.

6. Celebrate Little Successes

   Sometimes, the way towards your dreams will be really dark and that is when uncertainty becomes the object of your fears. But you can make sparks of light by thinking about your small successes and they will eventually ignite and burn  aflame. Remember how a piece of glass has to be subjected into fire until it becomes clear.

7. Optimism is Necessary

   You would not enter a tunnel if  you won’t think that there is something good waiting for you at the end. The reason most people just stop at the middle of the and be contented is negative thinking. Optimism allows you not to dwell with your temporary fear of uncertainty and focus on the greater possibilities ahead.

8. Ultimately… Believe God’s promise for our future.

   God’s promise for our future will give us the power to overcome the fear of the unknown. If you believe in Jesus, certainly, you know that your future is not unknown. Believe that He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Putting it all together

It is normal that we experience the fear of the unknown but having the burning passion to do what you wanted to achieve will definitely help you thrive in the world of uncertainty and see it as place of opportunity where success is always within your reach. Engaging with uncertainty and allowing it to fuel your hunger for success will open more doors for you and prepare your way towards the greater possibilities that could have never imagined. Trust that a bright future has been set before you!

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