It's so easy to get caught up in what you know. Your routine, habits, and the things that make you feel comfortable are all part of life as we know it. But what happens when those things shift? When something unexpected happens or even when something predictable but new comes into play? What do you do then?
Here are five truths that might help you in for being ok with the unknown:
1 You are not alone
You are not alone. You are not the only one scared, struggling, or feeling lost. You are not alone in being anxious and insecure and need to feel safe again. You are not the only one who feels this way; you aren't weird for feeling these things - it's human nature to be afraid of change.
It's normal to feel like this when we're in new territory or facing challenges that seem too big to handle on our own (and they often are). However, it's ok if you don't know what steps to take next; there is always someone who has been through the same thing and lived through it successfully (even if it took time).
2 You have a choice
You have a choice. You can choose to be scared, sad, happy, or angry. And you can also choose to be calm and ok in the unknown.
You may not have a choice about what happens to you, but you always have a choice about how you react.
At first, this may sound like it doesn't matter what you choose. But the truth is that it does. Your reactions to events in your life are potent. They affect how you feel right now and what happens next.
3 You can create your own joy
If you're feeling unhappy, the best way to change that is to be present in the moment.
You can find joy in your own life by taking a moment to appreciate what you have and who you are. Don't get caught up in what other people have or do; focus on yourself!
If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: If someone else makes us happy, they will also make us sad. And if we rely on another person for happiness, we will always depend on them to be happy.
Above all else, remember that YOU are responsible for YOUR happiness, and no one else is responsible for making YOU feel good about YOURSELF!
4 Life is always changing
The best way to deal with change is to realize that it's part of life. Change happens, and it's not something you can control.
It's ok to feel sad and worried about change, but that doesn't mean you should let those emotions stop you from moving forward. Change will always come—the only question is whether or not you choose to embrace it and make the most of it.
Change is a constant in our lives, meaning we need to learn how to live unpredictably if we want our experiences on earth to be enjoyable and meaningful.
5 Ask for help when you need it
Asking for help can be difficult and awkward, but it's not a sign of weakness, and there are plenty of benefits to doing so.
You don't have to do it all by yourself.
If you need an extra hand with something, ask someone with the time and ability to help! You might find that asking for help has many unexpected benefits.
In conclusion, being ok with the unknown is about embracing what comes
When we cannot control the future, we fear what might happen. What if I lose my job? What if I don't get that promotion? When we lack control over our external circumstances, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, and frustration.
But when you embrace what comes, you realize that life is constantly changing, and this moment is just an instant—one step in your journey toward your long-term goal.
Our ability to be ok with not having control over our lives may seem counterintuitive at first glance; however, remember that although you cannot control everything that happens around you (and neither can anyone else), every single one of us has a choice regarding how we respond to what happens around us:
Do we react with anger?
Do we react with love?
Do we respond with fear?
The choice is yours!
There will always be uncertainty in life no matter how hard we try to eliminate it from our daily lives—this is why embracing uncertainty means being able to let go of things that aren't within your direct control so that when something does happen, instead of panicking about it or obsessing about it, you can find peace because no matter what happens next there's still one thing guaranteed: Life will keep changing!
Being ok in the unknown is about embracing what comes.
It's about knowing you will be okay even if things don't work out as planned.
It's about being comfortable with not knowing because that's a part of life too.