4 Ways to Deal With Life’s Uncertainty and the Stress it Causes
By: Adebola Alabi
Tags: Uncertainty, Covid 19, Stress Management, Advice, Life Lessons

If there is any word that could be used to describe everything going on around the world right now, that word will be UNCERTAINTY.

There is uncertainty about when the economy will open back up.There is uncertainty about when schools, churches, gyms, restaurants, will open back up.

There is uncertainty regarding when there will be a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus

Hundreds of thousands of people are in the hospital, and no one is sure of when they will fully recover.

Millions have lost their jobs — and unsure about when they will get another one.

The November 3rd election here in America is creating its own uncertainty.

There is virtually no one immune from the uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic

Uncertainty creates fear Uncertainty causes stress and can affect our physical and mental wellness Uncertainty creates confusion Uncertainty can make us freeze, and it can keep us in an unending spiral where we are neither moving forward nor backward.

Photo by Olav Ahrens Røtne on Unsplash

Here are four ways to manage uncertainties.

1. Build Tolerance

The best way to handle uncertainty is to navigate through it. When driving on the road, most of the time, you do not know everything about the road conditions. You do not know how the other drivers on the road will drive, you don’t know if there was an accident on the road, but you still drive. You know there are risks on the road, but you are ready to navigate through and deal with them as they come. That indicates that you are prepared to tolerate the road risks, and you are not letting the uncertainties of the road conditions prevent you from leaving your house. In the same way, you need to acknowledge the specific kind of uncertainty you are facing right now, and build tolerance, so that you won’t stress or worry too much about it.

2. Focus on things you can control

Focusing on things outside our sphere of control will lead to more anxiety and stress. You must identify those things you can manage and focus on them. For example, you cannot control whether or not your employer lays you off, but you can boost your work performance. You cannot control the attitudes of other drivers on the road, but you can control yours. You can control your attitude about the situation you found yourself, control what you choose to listen to, and determine how you react to events around you, focus on those things, and do your best to make sure they are in synch.

3. Explore alternatives

When dealing with uncertainties, it is counter-productive to become preoccupied with the problem; instead, it is always better to work on solutions. Regarding the uncertainties you are facing, what are other options that you can explore? You should brainstorm and come up with alternatives that can provide you with more guarantee. If you work in a company that has been struggling to stay in business for a while, don’t restrict yourself to that business or industry, you should explore and remain open to other companies where your skills will still be relevant. By giving yourself the chance to explore alternatives, you will see different possibilities and opportunities that you won’t otherwise have found.

4. Stay positive

Negative emotions paralyze us and prevent us from seeing brighter and better days ahead. This season has been tough and challenging for many people worldwide, but the truth is that the challenges are surmountable. Coronavirus will be defeated. Normalcy will return to the world, but while waiting, you need to properly manage your emotions. You need to stay positive and optimistic about what the future holds. If you have lost your job, don’t use your energy on feeling sorry for yourself, but use it to focus on getting back on your feet. You have to be intentional to stay positive, you must train your brain to know that there are better days ahead, associate with people who will help you, and listen to uplifting messages. Focusing on positive things will shift your attention from negativities, thereby reducing your stress level.

The ability to strategically manage uncertainties is essential for a successful life. You must learn to tolerate and embrace uncertainties as part of life’s inevitable. Shifting your focus to what you can control and exploring alternatives will empower you to come up with practical steps that will lead to more stability. Follow the tips above, and you will boost your ability to manage uncertainty, thereby putting you in a position to come ahead in life.