Uncertainty

Uncertainty is usually a disquieting word as it conveys a negativity. Uncertainty, it seems, in most situations seems to suggest that there is probably something bad about to happen. We hear it said that 'life expectancy is uncertain', 'it is uncertain if we will succeed', or 'this economy is uncertain'.

However, to me, uncertainty is not so scary. Nay, it is the essence of life. Perhaps it is even godlike and should be the principle of life -- thus we  could capitalize it with a U (the great U). A horseshoe shape isn't such a bad symbol for the meaning of life, is it? In any case, what I mean is that uncertainty is much less dramatic if we think about it. We can certainly be uncertain about danger lurking ahead or about calamity striking at any moment; however, we also know that we can be uncertain about the possibility of something wonderful happening. Uncertainty, in my mind, conveys both sides of this danger/no danger binary--I think underneath the word uncertainty is possibility.

In therapy yesterday, I felt comfort in the fact that much is uncertain. And that is perhaps because I've seen much around me that shows just how uncertain life is. Instead of running scared from the big bad uncertainty monster, maybe we should just embrace it. I felt I had embraced this fuzzy sense of unknowing called uncertainty by yesterday about mid-therapy session. My therapist had asked me what theme I thought the session had. I responded, "In short, life is uncertain!"

We really don't know if we are going to be alive or dead from one moment to the next. There is a probability that most of us will make it to the golden years, but we cannot bank on it. However, there are several possibilities along a spectrum of outcomes! We must remember that there is no black and white, but a spectrum of colors. This is the power of the word uncertain. "I am uncertain what my grade will be in my class," one might say. What this person means is that he/she is not sure if she/he is getting  a passing grade. However,  it may be an A, B, C, D, or F. There are a range of possibilities.

All of life's outcomes are singular options from a cornucopia of many realities. Yes, something horrible may happen, but something good might just as easily happen. So, the next time you hear or read the word "uncertainty", please take comfort in the fact that this communicates many possibilities, not just one lurking danger!