I’ve been thinking about uncertainty this week and noticing where it shows up and how it can sit alongside us. On a micro level, it can be in changes at work, interactions with others, disruptions to routine, or due to holidays and external factors. On a macro level, the information we absorb from global events, societal changes, technological advancement and economic issues can all have an impact.
Uncertainty is a felt sense, so sometimes it’s in your awareness and at other times it sits on the periphery.
Learning about the events in Sydney at the weekend, close to where I used to live, brought this into sharper focus for me. When something happens in a place which once felt safe and relaxing, uncertainty can move from the background into clearer awareness.
How uncertainty often appears
I notice how if someone is anxious, general worry can mask what they are uncertain about. It can feel as though something isn’t quite right but you can’t identify what it is. This nagging can be exhausting as it means your nervous system is always scanning for the issue, with the mind busy trying to figure out what’s wrong.
For perfectionists or those with disordered eating, uncertainty can be maddening. Their need to control their environment can lead to constant troubleshooting and orchestration. As a result, uncertainty can create procrastination, tension and avoidance.
The desire to escape uncertainty
There’s often an understandable urge to escape the discomfort of uncertainty. Sitting with this discomfort can feel really ‘icky’, so people may use coping strategies to try and dispel it.
Some try to minimise or push feelings away through distraction, numbing, or keeping themselves constantly occupied. This might look like keeping busy, avoiding being alone with your thoughts, or finding ways to distract or numb feelings.
Amongst the clients in my counselling practice, I also notice how seeking reassurance or validation can become a way of managing uncertainty, particularly when people feel disconnected from their own instincts. It can create a cycle where discomfort is temporarily soothed but not really eased.
Living alongside uncertainty
By uncovering the root causes, we can see where uncertainty may be holding us back or where our efforts are simply fruitless. Coming to realise that the only thing we can control is ourselves can be freeing. It can mean we are able to accept that uncertainty is part of life. Whilst this may not always be comfortable, awareness can make it easier to live with.
Nothing I can write here or tell a client can change uncertainty. It exists all around us, close to home and far away. But it can be possible to shift how we think about it and perhaps this is all we need to know right now.
