Embracing Uncertainty

Regaining mastery of your mind

Our partner, Tony Robbins, says “Your quality of life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably live with”. Tony also emphasizes the importance of our ‘top 6 human needs’, and teaches that the order of importance of those needs in one’s life explains why we do what we do (see Tony’s TED Talk here). The top human needs are Certainty, Uncertainty, Significance, Love/Connection, Contribution and Growth.

The first human need is the need for Certainty; our need to feel in control and to be able to predict what’s coming next so we can feel safe. It’s a survival mechanism. It affects how much risk we’re willing to take in life — in our careers, in our investments, and in our relationships. But if ‘Certainty’ is one of your top two driving needs, it negatively impacts your choices and in turn your life. Especially because “The only constant in life is change”. Therefore, uncertainty or variety is the spice of life.

So, how do you balance your instinctual desire for certainty or control and the inevitability of uncertainty?

First, you must recognize that the only moment we truly have is here and now — the present. Eckhart Tolle says, “All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.” To dive deeper into this incredible work of the ‘here and now’, I highly recommend Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth and following along with his podcast.

Second, you must appreciate that the only thing we can truly control is our emotional state and the meaning we give events (which is what defines our experience of life). You cannot control those around you, the economy, the weather, the traffic, or anything external. Think about it — how often in life does reality not match your expectations or desires? Your start-up could lose out to competition due to timing, your dog could die after ingesting the TV remote, your wedding could be postponed because of a peculiar pandemic, your house could burn down because of a faulty stove…a multitude of scenarios could happen in every aspect of your life at any moment. And often the scenarios that play out are not what you planned. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

Yet in spite of this, life goes on. We still drive on the road despite there only being a painted yellow line between you and the oncoming car. We have faith, trust in the grace of this magical life and understand that no matter what we’re being faced with, there is a higher purpose for us to find. We’re often not given what we want in life, we’re given what we need. So you must ask yourself; “What is the higher meaning in this moment of pain, discomfort, or uncertainty?”.

Tolle also says, “If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity. When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.” So, how can you regain control of this moment and use the opportunity of uncertainty to get certain about your reaction and in turn, the action you will take because of it.

What if whenever uncertainty arose, rather than resorting to fear, you said “Hello again old friend, thank you for the reminder to become present. Thank you for showing me that I was becoming complacent. Thank you for reminding me to step up to my higher, truer self and purpose. Thank you, Uncertainty”.

Ultimately, you must trust in your ability to find a higher purpose, because nothing happens without a reason and it’s our responsibility to take the most painful and uncomfortable experiences and find a deeper and higher meaning. That is how we grow spiritually. When faced with uncertainty rather than letting fear run you, instead know that this is your time to get stronger. You have been made strong enough or you wouldn’t have been given this experience in the first place. You can let fear takeover and live in pain, or you can take charge! What do you decide?

This is a time for you to grow and expand. Fuel your mind with good works, not social media and ‘bad news’, but rather high quality reading by folks like Byron Katie, Tony Robbins, James Allen, Viktor Frankl, Napoleon Hill, and Eckhart Tolle. Be the gatekeeper of your mind and whenever uncertainty arises let it remind you to take action and to regain mastery of your mind.

Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups founded by Prime Movers, the inventors who transform billions of lives. We invest in seed-stage companies reinventing energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation and computing.