7 Steps to Overcome Uncertainty

Wanting a sense of certainty is one of the most basic human needs, and we all have it. Imagine if you couldn't feel certain that the roof in the room you are in right now wouldn't cave in or that the floor wouldn't suddenly give way.

You'd be living in a constant state of uncertainty, which would not only feel highly uncomfortable but would also make it impossible to focus on anything but survival.

Fortunately, we can feel a sense of certainty about many things, but not everything at all times. And for those who are naturally anxious, there can be a lot to be uncertain about.

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When feelings of uncertainty strike, we pretty much all have the same thought process: "If I could just somehow control what's going on, or at least feel certain about how it's going to turn out, then I could calm down because I know everything will be OK."

But unfortunately, life isn't like that, and we're left to deal with it.

So, let's take a look at a 7-step plan to help cope with feelings of uncertainty.

When feeling uncertain, it's important to establish a sense of calm.

Address thoughts and feelings about uncertainty.

Identify your strongest thoughts of uncertainty and write them down.

Examine each thought one at a time using your logical mind.

Think about all of the uncertainty in your life that you currently accept that isn't bothersome.

Change channels in your mind so you don't continue to worry.

Set a time to revisit your worries in the future if they are still bothersome.

So, I hope you found these seven steps helpful to reduce feelings of uncertainty. If you need help implementing these steps, please feel free to contact us at Sullivan + Associates Clinical Psychology.