in.sight
a newsletter for the eyes of the mind
SERIES 01 | ISSUE 06
Certainty is overrated
When nothing is sure, everything is possible.
– Margaret Drabble, English novelist, biographer, and critic
Uncertainty is probably the most certain feeling people have been experiencing since the COVID-19 pandemic. From job loss, the death of a loved one, to daily health scares. We’re left in this icky sense of instability, picking up the pieces of profound grief, anxiety, confusion.
My primitive human brain doesn’t like the great unknown either. There had been more than enough moments where I felt like my foundation of familiarity has crumbled. Despite all of that, basking in this awkward in-between space does give you some really interesting insights. And I’ve realized that it’s more effective to co-exist with uncertainty instead of resisting it. Here’s why:
1) Certainty is a lie
The troubles and traumas stemmed from the pandemic are very real. Many of us are still hovering in a musty unknown territory. But when you really think about it, stability can be stolen with or without the pandemic. Layoffs, sickness, war – many of these things have been happening before and will continue to happen. As grim as it sounds, nothing is ever really certain.
2) What we resist persists
Resisting our reality doesn’t help us recover, grow, or feel better. Instead, surrender to the resistance so that you can be in a lighter headspace to move forward. This doesn’t mean you’ll never feel anxious nor frustrated, but it will help alleviate the obligation to control what’s out of our power.
3) Help yourself, help others
The most valuable resource you hold that can make a change in the world is you. When you deplete yourself, through resistance, through blame, you lose your most precious asset. That’s why, in a time of painful unknown, self-maintenance is essential. We need to heal internally so that we can heal externally.
4) The opposite of uncertainty is your presence
Why allow inconsistent external scenarios to determine our inner truths? External events and expectations are often flawed anyway. Each time we’re in a place we’ve never been, it’s an opportunity to become more consciously aware and open to our experience. Your presence will always be in your control, giving you the space to shift gears, experiment, and grow in ways you never thought you could.
💝 noteworthy
Book: The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
Following up on the topic of uncertainty, this is an amazing read if you’re trying to level your head in shaky times. Beyond simple principles and platitudes, The Power of Now takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth: the discovery of truth and light.
😌 calm corner
This episode really resonated with me when I was going through a weird career transition. I’d just turned my creative work into something that didn’t exist even just a few months ago. Here, Anna shares about the world of self-employed work, careers, the challenges she faced going alone, and how she hopes to help those who want to follow a similar path.