Humans are wired to fear the unknown. That’s why uncertainty whether at the macro level of a global economic, health, or geopolitical crisis or at the micro level, Will I get that job ? Will this venture be successful ? Am I on the right career path ? can feel nerve-racking, exhausting, and even debilitating. However, that gut reaction leads people to miss a crucial fact. Uncertainty and possibility are two sides of the same coin.
Consider the achievements you’re most proud of, the moments that transformed your life, the relationships that make your life worth living. We’ll i bet that they all happened after a period of uncertainty, one that probably felt stressful but that you nevertheless pushed through to accomplish something great. When i moved abroad, for example, i faced uncertainty about making less money, paying higher taxes, doing more-challenging work, a new language, and a new culture. But now all these years later i am grateful for all the possibilities the move opened up for me.
Our modern-day heroes all have a similar story. Rosa Parks faced great uncertainty when she refused to give up her seat, igniting the Montgomery bus boycott and paving the way for desegregation. Nearly everyone initially thought that Elon Musk and his team would fail when they set out to revolutionize electric vehicles and push the world toward a more environmentally friendly future. They couldn’t have achieved their breakthroughs if they had been afraid of uncertainty. Uncertainty doesn’t have to paralyze any of us, we all must be strong and never be afraid or give up on challenging ourselves and the unknown...
eHowtwo 2023
