Seven Ways to Cope with Uncertainty

By: Betsy Pownall

In times of uncertainty,small ideas can make a difference. It is natural to want to close up like our distant cousin, the armadillo, and protect ourselves. It feels good at the moment, however, it is ultimately not self-protective and can eventually end up being more harmful to our mental state than helpful. Studies have shown that leaning into uncertainty is helpful in easing emotional distress. Leaning into uncertainty helps build more resilience and can help improve problem-solving ability.

So what do we do when we face an uncertain future, when we feel a sense of loss and grief for what once was, what may have been, and for what may come? Here are some ideas, from the Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life.

Don’t resist and go into denial: this won’t help you recover, learn, and grow.

Invest in yourself: you are your best resource to make a contribution to the world. If you are not investing in your self-care, you are not able to lead your best life~sustain relationships that bring you connection, sleep, eat well, and have fun.

Find healthy comfort.

Don’t believe everything you think. It can be helpful to plan for the ‘worst case scenario’ but when you believe your catastrophic thoughts, you feel threatened, afraid and unsafe.

Pay attention: choose what you focus on. The opposite of uncertainty is not certainty, it is “presence.” Practice staying present.

Believe you will not be rescued. When we feel powerless, we feel helpless and angry. What do you want in your life? What kind of life do you want to live? “To best cope with uncertainty, we need to stop complaining.” When we stop fixating on the problem, we can focus on how we can make the “best of this mess.”

Find meaning in the chaos. We are motivated by our significance to other people. A sense of purpose can ground us when the world feels frightening and uncertain. When we see something that needs improvement, ask yourself: What skills and talents can I bring to the issue? What really matters to me, and how can I be of service?