Becoming comfortable in uncertainty is a shift in mind-set and perception.  In the past, we were taught it was normal to be uncomfortable throughout an entire process; until we were sure we had arrived at our destination or achieved a specific goal.  How does this archaic thinking assist us in joyfully achieving our next level?  It doesn’t.

Taking the first step

We don’t always know the plan or aren’t always able to see the entire staircase, but you can take the first step or two, and notice things begin to unfold, sometimes in ways you were unable to imagine initially.  People often stall until they have the big picture or until they feel ready to make the big jump.  It’s like having a baby…is anyone ever fully prepared?  You can wait your entire life to make that leap toward your next level if you don’t summon the courage and confidence to take that first step.

Know how you’d like to feel

We don’t always know the right decisions to make or exactly what to do in a situation, but often we can identify how we want to feel.  When I was planning our wedding 5 years ago, we had a lot of decisions to make.  In the beginning of planning, a dear friend stepped in as a surrogate mother and lovingly took my calls in regards to big decisions.  Whenever I would ask her what to do, she would turn it around and ask me, “how do you want your day to feel?”  That question I could readily answer, as it took me from my head straight to my heart.  As capable as our minds are, we need to begin making more decisions from the heart.  Our head gets overwhelmed, confused, and blocked, while our hearts hold pure knowledge and clarity. When in doubt, ask your heart.

The way we’ve always done things does not necessarily work today

Knowing who you are and defining your strengths has become a standard to succeed in this world.  In the face of uncertainty, we need something, someone, we can rely on.  That someone is us.  A favorite coaching client came to a stunning conclusion after feeling devastated by her acclaimed role model, and realized it was time to step into her mentoring shoes; no one was going to do what she knew needed to be done or in a way only she knew how to do it.  I remember clearly my client spoke the words aloud on our call, “I am the one I’ve been waiting for!”  Building our awareness and self-knowledge defeats difficulty, it befriends uncertainty.  It’s not just about what we do anymore; a large part of our trajectory is coming from who we are.  We will achieve only what we think we can, nothing more.

It’s time to change the dialogue

Have conversations with people about what you’d like to have happen (create solutions vs. focus on problems).  An old boss I had required you to come to him with three solutions to any problem you brought to complain about.  It was an effective method, and forced his staff to focus on what they wanted, instead of what they weren’t getting.  You cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that got you there.  New circumstances and opportunities require new perception, new thinking, new language, and new action. One of my favorite quotes that sits on top of my bookshelf is, “If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” And I’ll add…you must be someone you’ve never been.

Fear vs. Love

You can’t have both, similar to poverty vs. wealth.  You are focused on one or the other. Your mind cannot hold a positive thought and a negative thought simultaneously, it’s this one or that one, you choose.  If you want to champion yourself to new heights, if you want a better country or a better world, be clear…it starts with you.  Fear is a control mechanism of the past; let’s give it the boot once and for all, so we can go higher and higher than even before.  If we focus on love, compassion, and self-care, fear doesn’t have a chance…and uncertainty, will be something we gently put our arm around as we saunter down the path of life.