Here’s a thought I’d like to share…
“Sticking with uncertainty is how we learn to relax in the midst of chaos, how we learn to be cool when the ground beneath us suddenly disappears. We can bring ourselves back to the spiritual path countless times every day simply by exercising our willingness to rest in the uncertainty of the present moment—over and over again.” ~Pema Chödrön
Pema Chödrön, in her book Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion says, “The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have.” This isn’t exactly the news we want to hear because uncertainty is uncomfortable.
But in actuality, uncertainty is just a sign that we are at the edge of all the things we already know. So to go beyond that edge means to explore, to grow, to venture into new territory. And here’s the kicker, ultimately, if we don’t grow, we stagnate. So feeling uncertain is a signal that we are about to enter a new arena; an arena that might just infuse our lives with the energy we’ve been seeking — the energy of growth and aliveness.
After all, it isn’t uncertainty that’s the problem, but it’s our fears about what that uncertainty will mean for us that causes us such angst. Perhaps if we could befriend, or at least get comfortable with, uncertainty, then we would not fear it so deeply. And if we did not fear it, we could actually make more skillful choices about what the next right step is.
Uncertainty is certain — we don’t get another option. We try to make things certain, and then something changes. It always does. It is the nature of this fluid, dynamic energy we call “Life.” And when we can truly come to relax into this understanding, letting go of having to know and just do the best we can, we more easily accept what is and more deeply experience the wild and precious life we’ve been given.
It’s a ride! You can white-knuckle it, close your eyes and wish it were over, or you can throw your arms up, feel the wind on your face, and enjoy the ride. You choose.
Wishing you the ride of a lifetime,
Namasté