3 Ways to Deal with Uncertainty (Part One)

Note: This article is from blogger Celestine Chua, who shares her approach and personal experience in dealing with uncertainty in life.

The employer proposed an initial salary that my friend disagreed with and demanded a higher salary. She told me that the salary issue is so critical that she will refuse the job if the employer disagrees with her demand.

Uncertainty in life

While she awaited the company's response, my friend became uncertain because she could only consider her plans once she heard back. Her request is likely to be approved because the amount is reasonable, but it also may be denied because the prospective employer is in a stronger position.

The essay addresses the problem of handling and controlling uncertainty from this angle.

How to deal with uncertainty

Whether one likes it or not, there are times in life when one must deal with uncertain situations. I have dealt with uncertainty on multiple occasions, and the situation involving my friend illustrates uncertainty in life. I mention the following:

1. Once I completed my high school education, I had to decide quickly about what I wanted to study at university. I had to make the right decision because it would shape my career, which made it extremely important. At the time, uncertainty overwhelmed me due to my limited knowledge of study programs and my lack of life experience. Making such a significant choice so quickly and at such a young age was challenging.
2. At one point in my previous employment, I wanted to switch up the responsibilities of working in a different department and get some experience. I had to wait several months for the company's standard procedures to be followed before I could fulfill my request, which left me feeling uncertain due to the lack of clarity in implementing this procedure.
3. The most severe uncertainty I experienced was when I quit my job to launch my own coaching business. My project was still in its early stages, so I was not sure when I had started working and making money. I was also afraid that it would not succeed.

I eventually overcame challenges, dealt with issues, and accomplished my goals after learning from each experience how to deal with uncertainty and not let it control me.

We can deal with uncertainty by taking the appropriate approach, and here are three effective ways to deal with it:

1. Focus on what you can control

It's essential to let go of the things you cannot control and concentrate on the things you can.

In every situation you encounter in life, there are elements that you have control over, so you should concentrate on those. Other aspects are out of your control, but you can still take steps to influence them without overanalyzing them.

Example: When I started working on my blog "Personal Excellence"

Let's examine my circumstances at the beginning of my coaching endeavor. Any startup project must have a period of uncertainty during which ideas and questions regarding when the project will start up, when it will begin to generate revenue, and whether the project will fail must all be present.

It was a very concerning time, but I confronted my fears after realizing there was nothing to fear. After realizing that my project's cash flow issues and lack of confidence in its success were the primary causes of my anxiety, I asked myself the following questions:

• “How can I ensure the success of my project?”
• "What should I do if, after a certain amount of time from the project's beginning, I don't generate any revenue?"

These questions were designed to help me concentrate on the areas I can manage, like creating a business plan, honing my craft, creating original content, and drawing in clients. Regarding the factors beyond my control, I was making every effort to attain them without worrying about them. Among these factors are the media's interest in interviewing me and the likelihood that my articles will rank highly in Google searches.

The blog gained popularity quickly because I worked on all the manageable axes, avoided getting sidetracked by worrying about other aspects, concentrated on the work I could do, and produced results quickly rather than worrying about others.

Moving from the external to the internal Locus of Control.

You must shift your focus from the external control center to the internal one.

To imagine that the outside world has more control over your life than it does is to adopt an external control center mentality. For instance, if you believe that factors such as the state of the economy, the government, or other people have more influence over your happiness and success in life than they do, then you have an external control center.

When someone has an internal control center, they believe they have more influence over their life than the outside world. For instance, you have an internal control center if you are responsible for your success and happiness.

Individuals with internal control tend to be happier and have an entrepreneurial spirit because they can handle uncertainty and life challenges more smoothly than those with external control.

When faced with uncertainty, the person can provide comfort by concentrating on the elements they can control. However, if the remaining aspects are beyond their control, they should attempt to influence them without overanalyzing them; in other words, they should prioritize action over worry.

In conclusion

This section of the article discussed my experience coping with uncertainty, evaluated my strategy in this area, and offered the first strategy for doing so, focusing on controllable aspects and avoiding worrying about uncontrollable ones. I will discuss the remaining strategies and provide personal examples in the second and final sections of the article.