By Dennis Merritt Jones, DD
Making Peace With Uncertainty
“We were born to be free, to expand our horizons by going where we have never gone before. There is a place within us that is courageous beyond our human understanding; it yearns to explore beyond the boundaries of our uncertainties.”
The Art of Uncertainty – How To Live In the Mystery of Life and Love It
When dining at a restaurant recently, I saw a 3’x3’ poster on the wall depicting a very tempting giant Fudge Brownie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot fudge syrup. Under the brownie was the caption, “Life is uncertain – eat dessert first.” I thought that was an interesting narrative on the topic of uncertainty – especially in a world where indulging in instant gratification is a national pastime. How do you handle uncertainty when it pops up in your daily life? Many of us turn to any form of denial we can; anything to avoid the unpleasant feeling of not knowing, of not being in control of what the future may hold, be it five minutes or five years. To avoid the unpleasantries of our uncertainties, we run to the medicine or liquor cabinet, the refrigerator, the shopping mall, etc. The only problem is when we return from our trip down “the river of denial” the same uncertainty we had before we departed is waiting for us; the only difference is each time we attempt to avoid uncertainty, it seems to become even more ensconced in our mind and heart. It’s when we become bogged down in our uncertainties that we catch a dose of “stuck-in-the-rutitis” which is a soul smothering dis-ease. Then we hunker down, keeping our heads below the line of fire where it looks like a safe zone. Just the opposite is true; it’s a dead zone.
The Infinite Intelligence within us knows when we are not living up to our full potential – which is when a little bit of our soul metaphorically withers and withdraws from life. That’s when we become numb and oblivious to the possibilities that lie just beyond the rut. The “Zone of the Known” is a dead zone. Nothing new can be experienced from within the field of what we already know.
There is much comfort to be found in the confines of a box when we know where the edges are. But there is no growth, no evolution, and no deepening of our spiritual nature within that box. If we want to create a larger life, we must expand the size of the box – that is, come to the edge and lean over. In my book, The Art of Uncertainty – How to Live In The Mystery of Life and Love It, each of the chapters reveal different areas of our lives where the side-effects of living with stuck-in-the-rut-itis too long can be detrimental to our longevity and well-being. A few examples are:
The Impact of Habits: We frequently remain trapped in a rut
because sticking with our habits is far easier than changing course. Yet, when bad habits remain unchecked, they turn into addictions. With mindfulness, we can utilize the power of habits positively
and create routines that lead us towards success.
The Anatomy of Fear: When we are afraid, we ignore the stimulus rather than addressing it. To thrive in the face of uncertainty, we must observe our fears and transcend them.
The Wisdom of Knowing What and When to Let Go: When dealing with difficulty, many of us retell our story over and over, letting it define us. To move forward into the mystery of the unknown, we must release resentment and other soul suffocating attachments and open ourselves to the beginning of a new story.
Abundance is the Gift Already Given: How big is your bucket (which is a metaphor for your consciousness or belief system)? We live in an abundant Universe but cannot receive anything we are unprepared to accept. To accept anything new, we must release that to which we cling and faithfully free-fall into the arms of an abundant Universe. With The Art of Uncertainty as a companion, you will learn to view life’s transitions as places from which to grow, rather than causes for anxiety.
Note: Many of my articles which you read in Paradise News contain quotes and excerpts from my recent books. These articles are available on the Paradise News website at www.paradisenewsfl.com under the advice tab.
Peace, Dennis Merritt Jones, DD • Copyright © 2024 – DMJ Presentations LLC • www.DennisMerrittJones.com
Dennis Merritt Jones’ vision is “Guiding People to Purpose.” He is an award-winning author of six books, a keynote speaker, and personal mentor/coach who loves living in St. Petersburg. If you would like more information regarding his availability as a speaker,
his mentoring programs, and his books, please visit his website at DennisMerrittJones.com.