Embrace Uncertainty

​The system is changing, the way we work is changing, the culture is changing, the people are changing, the process is changing, the climate is changing, the leaders are changing, the world is changing, and this has always been our reality. Aside from the rising and setting of the sun, nothing in life is truly certain. We have lived this way for millennia as our normality, and still, we find change unsettling.

Why do we find change unsettling? When we have a salaried job, working in the same team, within the same structure, living in the same home, with the same routine, the same income, the same family dynamics, the same social circles, the same relationships, the same hobbies, the same responsibilities, the same weekly shop, the same habits and behaviours, and the same holiday times each year, it can lead us to feel like we know where we are at, what is happening and so we need not worry about any major change. For many people, it can feel comforting to live in this sameness.

In reality, change can and does happen at any moment, with a new addition to a family, the loss of a loved one, the deterioration of health, a pay rise or change in position, a job loss, a change in school, a new relationship, unforeseen redundancy, new leaders rising, the old falling or moving on, people changing location, new opportunities presenting themselves, a global pandemic, a natural disaster, a broken friendship,  a change in weather, or a new idea!

When change happens people often feel unsettled, they feel they do not know what is happening, they may feel out of control, stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or chaotic, while others may feel excited, full of wonderment about what could be, thankful for the shift, grateful for the new opportunity, relieved, liberated and renewed; these people embrace uncertainty, and some thrive on it.

How can we learn to embrace uncertainty? Choosing to embrace uncertainty comes with a certain amount of risk. It requires us to face our very real vulnerability, accept feelings of anxiety or excitement, and recognize that in reality, certainty was only ever a timed illusion.


The ability to consciously embrace vulnerability requires:

• Courage – to accept our true vulnerability and our reality, with all the feelings and emotions that come with this.
• Mental strength – to manage the fears, doubts, and worries that may be playing in the mind, and all the emotions connected with vulnerability.
• Trust – to believe in the positive outcome of things and our ability to respond in a favorable way to, whatever happens, knowing we can create our own solutions and things can be okay, and if they cannot be okay, we can still find the resources to survive until we see the new horizon.
• Logic – when there is fear, doubt and worry, the emotional brain takes over from logic and reason. The challenge is to reset the brain and restore the logical mind so that focus can be maintained, acceptance embraced, trust fostered and solutions created. Resetting requires restoring emotional equilibrium, which may require time out, relaxation, a change in perception, or a good sleep.
• Love – allowing negative thoughts and perceptions to take over hurts people. When we choose to love, we decide to take ownership of how we are thinking and feeling, we decide what we hold in mind and what we let go of, and we decide that in the presence of fear, doubt and worry, we choose to respond with courage, strength, and trust, and we decide that no matter what, we are going to be okay because this is what the voice of love sounds like.

Where is your mind at? Are you focused on what you want, what you value and appreciate, what you feel gratitude for, where your strengths are, your success stories, the direction you are striving for, no matter what, and on maintaining peace in your present even during a storm? Or, are you allowing negative voices to cloud your mind?

Do you want to better embrace uncertainty?

•  Choose Your Focus: Ask yourself, in this time of uncertainty, ‘What do I want to create as my present and future outcome?’ Keep you vision on the goal, not on the noise that is created by fear, doubt and worry.
• Grow Mind Mastery: Ask yourself, ‘What voices are working against me, what do I want to do with them, what voices do I want to cultivate, and what am I going to tell myself now?
• Connect with Love: Put your hand on your heart, breathe deeply, feel your connection with yourself, and make the choice to operate from love; with thoughts and actions that align with acceptance, compassion, kindness, support, encouragement, gentleness, care, empathy and nurturing, of yourself and others. This will give you the inner strength to surf the tides of uncertainty.
• Take action in the direction you truly want: Act for what you want and make that vision clear. Define your strategy or personal goals based on what you do know and what you can control and influence today, knowing adaption and change may be required along the way. Listen to the voices that encourage and support your desired outcome, because what you listen to evokes the feelings and emotions you experience, which ultimately impacts how you are, what you do, and what your likely outcome will be.
• Believe in yourself and your vision: Why would you want to choose any other path: belief in self and your vision is a choice of love and it is your path to realising your greatest possibility and potential.

Antonia Behan Copyright  2022

Get in touch to learn about 'Embracing Uncertainty' corporate workshops
antonia@antoniabehan.com