Dealing with the uncertainties of life
No one can tell what will happen in the future. The future is not ours to say. Life is truly uncertain.
In his book, "Life Is Short, Live, Laugh and Love While You Can!,” Tim Connor exclaims, “Many people today struggle with the need to know what will happen tomorrow, next week, or this
year. Life is about uncertainty, adventure, unknown, and surprises. It could be a career change that you didn’t anticipate, a divorce that you never thought possible, a health crisis that you were not prepared for, a new love while you are still in a relationship, a financial challenge that you felt you did not deserve, a family problem with children, in-laws, siblings, and many others.”
Like the case of a friend who I bumped into some few weeks ago. I just learned recently that she died due to a deadly bacteria that she got while swimming in a river. The last time I saw her, she was bubbling with enthusiasm and laughter when we met in a restaurant. Truly indeed, one can never tell what lies ahead.
If we are anxious on the uncertainty of the future, the wikiHow.com offers the following tips:
Understand that uncertainty is a part of life. Fortunately or unfortunately, no matter what you do, there will always be uncertainties in life.
Accept that there are no “shoulds’ in life. If you are convinced that things will always work out how you want them, then you are bound to be disappointed. Instead, remind yourself that no matter how things work out, you will learn how to be happy if you can be open to the possibilities in front of you.
Reassure yourself that you are strong. Remind yourself that you can deal with whatever comes your way both mentally and emotionally with the grace of God. If you aren’t feeling confident, remind yourself of a time when you overcame a really tough situation.
Distract yourself. If nothing else works, try giving yourself to an engaging activity. If you have a job, put in a few extra hours which will force you to focus on something else for a while.
Have a back up plan. In some cases, how committed we are to reaching a goal , life or circumstances will get in the way. Therefore, it is always good to have a back up plan. This will also help to prevent uncertainty when thinking about your goal because you know how to deal with an outcome that is not you are aiming for.
Take things one step at a time. If you have a very large goal you want to achieve, it is best if you can break that big goal into smaller, more manageable “sub-goals.”
Do yoga or meditate. Stress related to uncertainty activates structures in the brain that can make it difficult to calm yourself. If you’re having trouble getting your mind settled, try practicing yoga or try meditation.
Pray. Pray to the Lord for guidance and comfort. Remember that He will help and guide you to the right path, and all you have to do is listen for this guidance.