Most people aren’t too keen on uncertainty — they prefer stability, routine, and a sense of control over their lives. Individuals crave steady ground to walk on, assurance that everything will be alright, a desire for safety and security, and the knowledge of how life will play out.
One thing’s for sure: experiencing uncomfortable emotions and uncertainty is a natural part of life. During challenging periods and uncertain times, it’s important to take the time to sit with the uncertainty and focus on what can be controlled. Acting impulsively to escape or deny the discomfort has the potential of causing additional detrimental consequences. The takeaway is simple: small, timely choices can change the entire trajectory of your life.
Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock
It’s okay to allow yourself time to be hurt or sad. Letting go of difficult situations is often too much to ask, so setting an intention to let things be and move past them is more manageable.
Research on the effects of fixed mindsets suggested that holding on to negativity impedes your personal growth and ability to move forward. Wishing things were different will not make them so. Moving through challenging situations and letting them be will require you to:
You have a choice not to ruminate on things that are out of your control. When you let things be, you allow life to teach you so you don’t remain stuck.
You’re capable of making decisions and handling various situations that come your way. Studies in self-compassion supported how it’s essential to view yourself as a valuable human being. Feeling like you have little power to change things is a mindset that undermines your physical and emotional health, which is extremely disempowering and keeps you stuck.
Managing your expectations, taking risks, and facing reality helps you see how your challenges are rarely as bad as you thought they would be. When you find yourself in situations where you feel like you have little or no control, encourage yourself by:
Recognizing your importance and ability to be a creator instead of a victim requires maintaining control over your thoughts. You have the power within yourself.
RELATED: The Art Of Empowerment: 5 Simple Phrases The Most Confident People Use
Chay_Tee via Shutterstock
Accepting the present without an intense desire to change can be extremely difficult. When you make a conscious effort to stop fighting reality and stop resenting that certain aspects of your life aren’t the way you want them to be, you leave a space for acceptance to arise.
Pausing to explore what you’re feeling, recognizing where you can act, and responding accordingly is where your control lies. Setting the intention to achieve acceptance can be manifested in the following ways:
Learning to accept the reality of a situation can be overwhelming. Research on self-acceptance reminded us that acceptance takes practice and might feel uncomfortable and difficult at times. Acknowledging reality — not denying it or fighting it — can create the opportunity for problem-solving and healing.
RELATED: Science Says You Can ‘Microdose’ Mindfulness When You Need To Center Yourself But There’s Not Enough Time In The Day
U__Photo via Shutterstock
Taking care of yourself is essential. Often, individuals let life happen to them without stopping to check in with themselves daily. Making self-care a priority allows you to connect to your own sense of meaning and enhances strength and resiliency during challenging times. Acting supportive and encouraging towards yourself requires focusing on these skills:
There are always opportunities to learn new skills, accept your feelings, tolerate distress, and move forward despite not knowing what the future holds. In truth, you live with not knowing every single day. It’s important to allow yourself the space to feel your emotions, acknowledge the reality of them, ride through them, and take action to discover how to handle them.
Life coach Susie Pettit explained, “Some of my scariest and most uncomfortable experiences in life, like starting a business, having kids, and finding love, have given me the most happiness in the end. People who accept their emotions without judgment experience better mental health and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. When you allow yourself to feel your emotions fully, you build the emotional resilience needed for a meaningful life.”
The answers will come as you walk through the process. Your journey will unfold, and you will be able to handle the realities that come your way. Setting the intention will enhance your ability to move through periods of uncertainty more effectively and beneficially. You will thrive!
RELATED: Being Happy Is a Skill — And Psychology Says These 30 Life Lessons Are The Training Manual
