Uncertainty Vs Possibilities

Last week, I had an enlightening conversation with Prashant (of course name changed), a young professional who was feeling overwhelmed with his corporate job and life, in general.

Me: Hey, Prashant! You seem a bit stressed today. What’s on your mind?

Prashant: Oh, you have no idea. I’m frustrated, anxious, nervous, and furious—all of it. I feel like I can’t catch a break.

Me: Sounds rough. What’s going on?

Prashant: Ever since I joined this company, ABC, a year ago, it's been one thing after another. Mergers, separations, acquisitions—there’s no stability. I can’t see anything settling down anytime soon, and it’s driving me crazy. It’s been nonstop turmoil. First, there was news of a merger, then rumors of an acquisition. Every time I start adjusting, something else changes. I don’t even know who my boss will be next month or if I’ll be on the same team. I’m not even sure if I’ll have a job. It feels like every plan I make just crumbles, and I’m stuck in this constant state of not knowing what’s coming next.

Me: I hear you. It’s definitely a lot to handle. But let me ask you something. Are you sure you’re facing uncertainty, or could it be that you’re dealing with possibilities?

Prashant: What do you mean? It all just feels like uncertainty to me. I have no clue what’s going to happen.

Me: Let’s take a step back. True uncertainty is when something completely unforeseen happens—something you couldn’t have even imagined. Think about the COVID-19 pandemic. No one saw that coming. That’s uncertainty in its truest form because we didn’t even consider it as a possibility. But your situation? It’s a bit different.

True uncertainty is when something completely unforeseen happens—something you couldn’t have even imagined, just like Covid-19 pandemic.

Prashant: So, you’re saying this isn’t real uncertainty?

Me: Right. Look at it this way: when you flip a coin, there are two possibilities—heads or tails. You don’t know which one will land, but it’s not uncertain because you know the possible outcomes. If I throw a dice, there are six possibilities. I don’t know which number will come up, but I know the options. What you’re dealing with is similar. You know the possibilities; it’s just that you’re unsure which one will happen.

When you flip a coin, there are two possibilities—heads or tails. You don’t know which one will land, but it’s not uncertain because you know the possible outcomes.

Prashant: Okay, but there are so many things I can’t predict—like what my next project will be, who I’ll be working with, even if I’ll have a job after all these changes.

Me: I get that. But let’s break it down. It sounds like your biggest concern is whether you’ll still have a job after everything settles, right?

Prashant: (Initially a bit skeptical about the oversimplified conclusion, he pauses before responding) Yeah, that’s what it boils down to.

Me: So, really, you have two main possibilities: one, you stay with the company through the changes, or two, you leave and find another opportunity. Now, tell me do you see any third possibility? And secondly, can you NOT prepare for both these possibilities?

Prashant: I hadn’t thought of it that way. I am getting it now, AK. I guess, there is no third possibility. You are right. So, you’re essentially saying that if I plan for both outcomes, it’s not really uncertain?

Me: Exactly. If you prepare for the possibility of staying in the same company or preparing for another, then you’re covering your bases. By doing that, you’ve turned the unknown into manageable possibilities.

Continuously thinking about uncertainty paralyzes you, but focusing on ALL the possibilities lets you take action.

Prashant: So, it’s all about shifting the way I see it the things. Right?

Me: Yes. Think of it like this: consider all the possibilities that can happen and prepare for them.

Prashant: I see. So, by focusing on what I can actually prepare for, I’m not at the mercy of the situation anymore.

Me: That’s right. It’s about realizing that while you may not control the outcome, you can control your response to the possibilities. And that makes all the difference.

Bottom Line: Life is indeed full of uncertainties, but not everything “possible” qualifies as uncertainty. It’s essential to understand the difference: too often, people mistake “possibilities” for “uncertainty.”

Possibilities are a set of known outcomes, each of which can be anticipated and planned for. Uncertainty, on the other hand, is the unexpected—like the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the world by surprise. It’s something we can’t foresee or prepare for in advance.

So next time someone mentions “uncertainty,” encourage them to think again. They might just be facing a world of possibilities waiting to be navigated.