Certainty
I’ve been thinking a lot about certainty – and how it is such a myth. What’s certain is this moment, right now. Beyond that, it’s hopes and plans and intentions and dreams, but it’s not certainty.
I think pandemic life has brought to the surface many feelings and emotions for a lot of people. And a lot of this is hard. Most people don’t like to be in uncertainty, and I don’t think anyone likes to feel untethered or uncomfortable.
But, here we are. It’s my first one, but it does feel certain to me that a global pandemic tends to bring these unwanted feelings with it.
The COVID-19 crisis is tough (for countless reasons), and I think we need to be aware of how we are moving through it in a way that does not make it any harder than it needs to be. Embracing the uncertainty is a big part of this for me. Some days the embrace is smooth and warm, and other days, it is only an understanding of it and cognizance that it’s here. But, most importantly, I try not to fight against it.
Another thing I’m working on is resisting the binary arguments. Social media is often not our friend in this, but the more awareness we cultivate around this topic, the more it helps us resist this kind of unproductive thinking. To believe feelings are mutually exclusive is to not be vulnerable to the moment we are in. In any moment, it can be heavy, and also light. Things can be hard and good, together. You can feel scared while at the same time feel excited.
I think binary thinking and our need for certainty go hand-in-hand. We can feel more certain when we are quick to label things one way, when we point out the villain immediately, when we go right to a story. In the absence of data, Brené always says, our mind will create a story. It is how we are wired.
But, I think we can actively try to rewire, and it’s something I’ve been working on. And I find that on any given day, it’s easy and challenging, rewarding and draining, heavy and breezy – and that’s all okay. I am certain about that.
Above Image: Jo Love’s Instagram instagram.com/jo__love__/
Above Image: Brené Brown’s Instagram instagram.com/p/B-umsbGpx2z/ |
Podcast episode: brenebrown.com/podcast/alicia-keys-and-brene-on-more-myself/
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