Life is tough. You find yourself in a dilemma. You have to figure out a way to make ends meet while also pursuing your passions. Sometimes life teases you, and life relishes it.
You try to predict the future. Everyone does. But to no avail. If someone has ever done this, then there would be no human suffering. But can you call it life?
Life isn’t life if it isn’t rife with strife. This strife can occur between people, families, cities, countries, and even continents! But mostly the real strife is within ourselves. There is always an internal conflict to make the right decisions in a world full of variables and uncertainty.
Building on that, here are 8 ways to deal with the reality of uncertainty in life:
- Invest and maintain your well-being. This especially includes your mental, emotional, physical, and psychological health. Regular exercise and eating healthy are always harder at first, but your body will thank you for it down the line! You can also do meditation, journaling, and undergo psychotherapy should you need it. You never know if your childhood traumas and outdated mindsets are still affecting you to this very day. Your body and mind is the vessel you have during your existence on earth. Nurturing it is always the right decision.
- Pursue healthy outlets. People nowadays fall easily into vices and bad behavior because it is so much more rewarding in the short term. Gambling, alcohol, sex, video games, food, drugs and smoking are some examples of these vices that will let your life go downhill quickly if done in excess. What’s unhealthy about these is that many of these let your body release an unnaturally high amount of dopamine (chemical that makes your body feel good). This can then lead to addictions when your cravings increase and you have to satisfy your urges by doing more of that bad vice. Go for healthier outlets like exercising, arts, music, writing, hiking and so much more hobbies that are healthy for your mind and body.
- Don’t believe in everything you see and hear. The internet and social media is all about maintaining appearances. It’s important to recognize that people want to show only the best sides of themselves on their social media accounts. Contain your envy because you never know what dirty laundry these people are hiding. On the flip side, news and media outlets know that negativity is sensational. Crime, drama, rumors, intrigue is what they sell. Don’t buy into the negativity because it would only stress you out and make you worry about the things going on around you.
- Be an active part of a loving and supportive community. Life is meant to be shared with those who have your best interest at heart. Surround yourself with family, friends, and loved ones whom you know will support you whenever life gets overwhelming and uncertain. They will listen to you when you need to express something, and are frank and honest when giving you advice. Make sure you also return the favor; a community is not built on a one-way street.
- Factor your mind and heart in your big life decisions. Balance your decisions based on how you feel about it and what you think about it. Remember that you would always be in a state of internal conflict if you are too logical in your decision-making (where you might not feel joy in the long run) or are too emotional (where you might regret acting only on passion). The common dilemmas one experiences are those which require a significant level of time, effort, and commitment. Getting into a committed relationship, building a business, choosing a place to live, and deciding on a career path are some of these instances.
- Get rid of perfectionism. A lot of people get stuck in a slump or in bouts of procrastination not because they are lazy, but because they are afraid of mistakes and failure. Understand that action is the best way to go about your life, and that being perfect is not realistic. The best way to beat uncertainty is to move inspite of it, because life opens up to those who are ready when opportunities come. Just remember to put your best foot forward, and the rest, as they say, will take care of itself.
- Balance discontent with gratefulness. Human beings are generally wired to be discontented and wanting because we need to accumulate resources in our lifetime for ourselves, families and loved ones. Discontentment is a strong driver. However, discontentment is also debilitating in excess because it brings about hopelessness and stops people on their tracks. Create a healthy balance by always recognizing what you have, being grateful for it, and appreciating those in your life. Seeing the world with an abundance mindset is the strongest driver. You don’t see the world as a treacherous, and a dangerous place, but an opportunity for collaboration with members of the human race. Uncertainty would definitely not faze you as much.
- Enjoy your life’s journey. Avoid focusing only on the destination. You’ve always heard the adage, “Life isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.” Always remember that in this productivity-addicted world, taking things slow always refreshes your mood and outlook on life. It’s important to be a productive member of society and strive for your goals. However, it is far more important to recognize that your are primarily a human being. Human beings need the time and space to reflect and look upon themselves to recognize their feelings and thoughts without external biases. This will ensure that you are always going to the direction you wish to go, but also stopping and enjoying the sights and sounds every step of the way.