You’re given a choice

You’re given a choice.

Sit in a room waiting for something unknown.

Or be sure of getting a minor electric shock.

What do you choose?

The scenario is from an actual research study.

The results?

Participants overwhelmingly chose to get SHOCKED!

Humans hate uncertainty.

Yet we’re living in highly uncertain times.

Constitutional rights under threat.

A global pandemic.

A recession.

Navigating uncertainty has left us numb, scared, exhausted, and angry.

But what if the certainty we seek is precisely what keeps us stuck?

As we cope with uncertainty, how do we…

Ride through our difficult emotions?

Step back from distressing thoughts?

Increase self-control?

For me, mindfulness helps.

It’s sitting in the not knowing.

It’s choosing to observe the movie of our life with curiosity.

It’s living without fast-forwarding to see what happens at the end.

Easy, no?

But even if it improves my well-being 10%, I’m much better off.

Like those in the study, is the desire for certainty shocking you?

How will you change your relationship to uncertain feelings?

Maturity of mind is the capacity to endure uncertainty.