Navigating Uncertainty
It’s a deep topic and a tough one. Trust me I know.
Every three months I go in for scans to see if my cancer treatment is working. If the scans show progression, it means the cancer is outsmarting the treatment. It’s mutating, it’s growing, it’s figured out a way to further invade my body. As a result, it means that it’s time for me to change treatment–a decision that I don’t take lightly. To put it into perspective, it’s not like simply changing antibiotics when you have an infection. Living with stage four cancer means there are only a finite number of treatment options available. So if I have to change treatment, it means there is one less treatment option available to prolong my life. I told you this was a heavy topic!
But what about navigating uncertainty in normal day-to-day life? While it can feel overwhelming, it also holds opportunities for growth and transformation.
I tend to take many of my life lessons from nature, so let’s use the ocean’s waves as an analogy for navigating uncertainty–always moving, sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, yet never stagnant. When I stand at the shore watching the waves roll in and out, it reminds me that life is constantly shifting, and just like the ocean, we can learn to ride the waves rather than resist them.
Here are some practical tips for navigating the unknown with grace and confidence:
Focus on what you can control like your mindset, your reactions, and your self-care.
Practice mindfulness and staying present.
Shift fear into curiosity–ask yourself, What can I learn from this?
Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage you.
Give yourself some self-compassion.
Remember, in times of uncertainty, it’s okay to not have all the answers. Try to see uncertainty as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat, and to allow yourself the grace to adapt, change, and thrive in the face of the unknown.
-Laura
Live Fully. Love Deeply. Laugh Often.
