FOCUSED UNCERTAINTY
(A philosophy for students)
Gerald L. Finch, PhD
Champions for Lost University Students, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, has created a special philosophy to help lost students: Focused Uncertainty. Here are some of the key tenets of this philosophy:
Uncertainty is a fact of life. We can never know everything for certain, and we cannot control everything that happens to us.
Focusing on our uncertainty can be paralyzing. If we constantly dwell on the things we don’t know and can’t control, making decisions and taking action will be difficult.
We should focus on what we can control and influence. We can set big, exciting long-term goals to help us live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. Even if achieving these goals is not within our complete control, we can control our thoughts, feelings, and actions toward these goals.
Uncertainty is an opportunity for growth and learning. When faced with uncertainty, we must step outside our comfort zone and try new things. This can lead to personal growth and development.
Here are some examples of how Focused Uncertainty can be applied in real life:
- When faced with a difficult decision, instead of trying to predict all possible outcomes, we can focus on what we can control, such as our preparation and decision-making process.
- When dealing with a challenging situation, instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of the situation, we can focus on what we can do to improve the situation.
- When setting long-term or complex goals, we should break these goals into smaller, more achievable goals that we can focus on. “Inch by inch, life is a chinch” is a metaphor for taking small, incremental steps towards our goals. Big goals may seem daunting and difficult to achieve, but they can be made more manageable by breaking them down into smaller, more achievable steps.
Focused Uncertainty can help us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. It can help us cope with life’s challenges, make better decisions, and achieve our goals.
In addition to the above, Focused Uncertainty is characterized by the following:
- It is a philosophy of humility. Recognizing that we don’t have all the answers can help us to be more open-minded and tolerant of others.
- It is a philosophy of resilience. When we know we can handle uncertainty and change, we are less likely to fear the future.
- It is a philosophy of courage. Embracing uncertainty means being willing to step outside of our comfort zone and take risks.
- It is a philosophy of hope. Even though we can’t control everything, we can still create a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Focused Uncertainty is not about denying the existence of uncertainty, but rather about embracing it and using it to our advantage. It is a philosophy that can help students and all of us to live better lives in a complex and unpredictable world.
Gerald L. Finch, PhD
Professor of Management and Psychology, USFQ
Founder, Champions for Lost University Students
