Weekly Food for Thought - Capacity for Uncertainty

‘Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don’t let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.’ ~ R. I. Fitzhenry

Dear Friends,

My experience shows that we all enjoy functioning in the system where certainty reigns, where we swim within realm of familiarity, free from any turbulence. However, very often in life we encounter situations where we surf on the wave of uncertainty, unpredictability...

Through history, great scholars, like Winnicott, Keats, and such like wrote about the importance of capacity for uncertainty though. Uncertainty is a state where all of us have been and will be, and its main characteristic is anxiety and stress. At times, this state can last fairly long, and the importance of developing a robust psychology and a system to support it is vital.

In order to develop our capacity for uncertainty we must constantly endeavor to grow, so that our energetic potentials can grow too, and when this happens, anxiety is greatly diminished.

To start with, creating our capacity for uncertainty calls for a strong discipline and commitment from our part. However, as we become aware of our states in situations that are unfamiliar and uncertain, we learn how to function in them, without insomuch as a grain of anxiety or stress. We welcome them and appreciate them, as we learn a great deal from them.

Our capacity for uncertainty means letting go of all the energy that used to be linked to stressful and uncertain situations. Once that energy is released, it creates a space for joie de vivre, for creativity, for flexibility.

Even when there are no 'crisis situations' as such, thus created capacity for uncertainty serves as a preventative measure. It becomes some kind of a spontaneous filter through which earlier created frustrations, limiting beliefs, resistance, are released. And that's why having it (capacity for uncertainty) deeply engrained within us is of great importance.

With this in mind, I wish you a week of wonderful uncertainties:)!

Sending you oceans of love,
Lidija