How to Deal With Uncertainty: 10 Personal Tips

I had always been a person who liked to have everything planned out. Like most people, I felt secure in knowing what my future held and having a sense of control over my life.?

This situation changed a little bit after I moved to Ireland. I started to learn how to enjoy living spontaneously.

But now we are all facing changes in our lives. We are thrown into a state of uncertainty due to the current economy, inflation rates, layoffs.?

For me, and my friends specifically, there is an additional event on top of them; the recent earthquake in Turkey. Everybody asks what will happen next. How do we provide sustainable support to millions of people affected by the disaster? As a country on a faultline of 96%, how do we take the best precautions for the upcoming ones? How do we make sure corruption doesn't override people's lives? What will happen in the next elections?

We are overwhelmed and don't know what to do. We are filled with worry and anxiety about the unknown.?

But we can't keep going like this. It's not sustainable. It tears apart our cognitive abilities and peace.

How does uncertainty affect us?

Causes stress: Uncertainty can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress, which can have negative effects on mental and physical health.

Limits decision-making: When faced with uncertainty, people may find it difficult to make decisions. This can result in procrastination, missed opportunities, or poor decision-making.

Can lead to negative outcomes: Uncertainty can lead to negative outcomes such as financial loss, loss of a job, or damage to relationships.

I know it's easy to say, "Uncertainty is a normal part of life. You can't control the situation, but you can control your reaction to it." But it is true.?

Recently, I was thinking about what helps me cope with uncertainty.?Here are the tips that I find helpful;

1. Acceptance: We can't deal with anything unless we accept it. It's important to note that uncertainty is a normal part of life and can bring both positive and negative effects.?
2. Find comfort within uncertainty: If the chance of things going wrong is 50%. There is still another half. We don't know what will the other half bring. It can bring something beyond our imagination. Clinging on this little hope helps me a lot. Because, it can open up new opportunities for growth, learning, and personal development. This also leads to new ways of thinking and problem-solving. When faced with uncertainty, people often have to think outside of the box and come up with innovative solutions.?
3. Make a plan: Having a plan in place can help us to feel more in control of the situation. Even if the plan may change, having a plan in place can give you a sense of direction and purpose.
4. Stick to your routines: Psychologically, knowing what to do next when and where gives us a sense of control and safety. So creating a morning, evening or any kind of routine that relaxes you might be a game changer. To me, it's gym+coffee+reading+journaling in the mornings.
5. The Power of Self Talk: Telling yourself whatever you need to hear during uncertainty is very powerful. I often find myself telling this: " calm down, you'll be fine." You have been through lots of things and overcome them. You'll find a way.?
6. Stay informed: Keeping ourselves informed about the situation and the potential outcomes. This can help us to feel more prepared and in control.
7. Take action: Even if we can't control the situation, taking action can help us to feel more in control. This could include taking steps to mitigate potential risks or seeking out resources to help us cope.
8. Practice mindfulness: As many studies showed, Mindfulness practices such as meditation and deep breathing can help us to stay present at the moment and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.
9. Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, or a professional for support. Sometimes only a hug is enough. Don't forget the power of the oxytocin hormone:) Besides talking to someone about our concerns can help us to process our feelings and gain a different perspective.

Thanks for reading Mindfully Yours newsletter, I hope you enjoyed the topic. Here are some ways to access more mindful living tips:

→ Contact me if you're interested in working together on Professional Coaching.

→ Visit my website ?to see details for Coaching and references.

→ Follow me on LinkedIn, and click the ?? at the top of my profile page to learn more about mindful living and join the conversation on my posts.?

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→ Turkish speakers; Access my podcast on?Spotify ?or?Apple

Warmly,

Emine