Feeling Uncertainty

Greetings One and All,

Today is a last minute change of schedule day off for me.  Since I haven't been writing as much lately, this seems like a good opportunity to do so.

Something that's been on my mind this week is dealing with uncertainty.  Several situations have put me into new territory which of course makes one feel vulnerable and uncertain.  The thing about feeling uncertain is that I think it's something you recognize more in retrospect than in the moment.  My default reaction mode is gathering information.  For me, having more information -even if the accuracy of it is unknown- gives the illusion that I have some form of control over the situation.

For example, when Jak hurt his knee last summer, within an hour of returning from the vet I had Googled everything from alternative joint supplements to knee replacement surgery.  This of course can be a troublesome road to venture down because there is a vast amount of accessible knowledge with no way of knowing what might actually be helpful.  And in reality, the answer could only be found in time and by giving him common sense care.  The thing is when uncertainty is looming like a storm cloud, allowing things to happen in their own way and time is just excruciating.  As human beings in times like these we reach of our elixir of choice; food, drugs, alcohol, Google.  Anything to take the edge off of uncertainty.

Earlier this week when I found myself turning to my old friend Google, instead of choosing to venture down the lost highway of information, I decided to see what wisdom my favorite researcher/author -Brene Brown- might have to offer on the subject of uncertainty.  Turns out this was a good choice.  The following is an excerpt from an article she wrote on the topic.

"Uncertainty makes us feel vulnerable, so we try to escape it any way we can. Sometimes we even settle for misinformation or bad news over not knowing. Have you ever ended up in an Internet rabbit hole of terror while waiting for test results?

Yet it really is possible to thrive amid uncertainty. It's not about getting advice you can trust; it's about faith and self-trust—believing that whatever happens, you'll find a way through it. Without uncertainty, we'd never start a business or risk loving someone new. There are no guarantees when we step into the unknown. But these periods of discomfort can give rise to life's most important adventures."

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Living-with-Uncertainty-Brene-Brown-on-Uncertainty#ixzz2uX087qRk

This was so what I needed.  For one, not to feel alone in how uncertainty can feel.  And secondly and perhaps more importantly, that recognizing a state of uncertainty is the first step to embracing the process instead of resisting it.  Brene says when she feels herself start on a downward spiral she says to herself "I am feeling vulnerable" to break the cycle before it gets out of control.  For me, this is great advice and I have already found myself following it in the past few days since I read it.

I'll end this super-sized blog letter with a few lines from a Garth Brooks song (of course!) that have been rolling around in my head.

"No way over it.  No way around it.  If you want it, you have to go through it."

Until next time...

Peace & Love,

Hope