There’s been a lot of uncertainty in Canadian and American politics lately. Resignations, party and policy changes, threats e.g., tariff threats and measures, and other changes that leave people feeling anxious. Too much uncertainty can be a debilitating thing whereas some can be helpful, and even meaningful.
There’s a difference beween real and perceived threats and sometimes our brains, especially our primitive brain, cannot distinguish between the two. A slight can seem like a real attack, and we react accordingly (e.g., fight, flight, freeze or fawn). We are generally operating from this part of the brain with survival matters and, understandably so, it has kept us safe so far.
The problem arises when we’re stuck in survival mode when the situation does not call for it. Jessamine Chen, in her TEDx talk Rethinking Uncertainty, discusses how anxious people tend to have two biases that affect them and their behaviour: attentional and appraisal bias.
Attentional bias is paying too much attention to things going wrong, so it seems more often or more intense (sounds like confirmation bias to me), and appraisal bias is overestimating how likely threats will happen and the impact that can happen. If you have a low tolerance for uncertainty and feel anxious often, here are some things you can do:
Stop underestimating your or others’ ability to cope with these situations. Have faith and trust in your and other’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Prepare for bumps in the road. This was a suggestion to keep up with new habits in The Power of Habit and it’s the same for life’s challenges and changes.
Reach out. If you need help navigating the uncertainty, reach out to a trusted friend or loved one. You can also seek professional support.
Band together. You’re not the only one going through uncertainty or uncertain times, there are others who are experiencing it too. Find others who are going through the same thing and band together. “Buy Canadian” is one example of banding together in uncertain times.
Remind yourself that things are temporary. One thing that keeps me sane during stressful times is to remind myself that “this too shall pass.”
Take action. One way to deal with anxious feelings is to do something about it. What’s one small step you can take to alleviate some of the anxiety? “Action cures fear” is a saying for a reason.
Accept you don’t have control of everything. Despite always wanting to be in control, we’re not, and the sooner we accept this the sooner we can stop fighting against reality.
Embrace a growth or possibility mindset. Instead of seeing the uncertainty in your life as fixed and a nuisance, you can see what it can teach you about yourself and others.
Have hope. Easier said than done during uncertain times, but if you can have hope and hold on to it, it’ll be easier to ride the rollercoaster of life.
Buffer your life with moments of joy. Even if things are not going as expected you can still take moments to laugh and enjoy. Throw on your favourite comedian or go out for a refreshing walk, anything that brings you some joy.
Feeling uncertain is not typically a comfortable emotion, however, if it wasn’t for uncertainty life would be a drab. Imagine knowing everything that is to come...yawn.🥱 Think of the greatest experiences in your life. Most likely you weren’t certain of the outcome.
According to Dave Prakash, TEDx speaker, it’s that uncertainty that made those experiences that much sweeter and why you savour those memories. He calls uncertainty the “best gift you never wanted” and titled his TEDx that, Uncertainty: The Best Gift You Never Wanted. He says uncertainty can give your decisions and actions meaning, build strength, resiliency, and trust, and can make you closer to loved ones.
Of course, it goes back to the degree of uncertainty, however, even with some trying situations overcoming uncertainty can be very rewarding. If you need extra support with this, schedule a Get Acquainted & Strategy Session to explore next steps with me.
Best,
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