4 Ways to Embrace Uncertainty

Do you ever feel like you're not good enough? Somehow, everyone got this manual except you? Have you been waiting for the moment when you finally arrive and feel like you've made it?

Yes, I've been there, too. When I was young, I was sure that by 35 I would have reached my full self -- that I would finally be who I really am, who I was meant to be.

When I was 35, I was in a state of shock when I realized I wasn't as old as I thought I was. I didn't make sense of it all. It's far away.

How did I get to this place in my life and still feel like I have a lot to do to get to where I want to be in my career? With so many unknowns?

I feel very angry.

Angry at yourself for being so uncertain about your future

Angry at the people who should have known

I'm pissed that I can't figure it out right now

I lashed out. I cried. I try to stay busy so I can avoid thoughts that hurt me.

Look closely to find out

After days of doubt and self-loathing, I decided to start journaling again to try to figure out what was going on. Why do I feel so angry at myself? Feeling out of place?

From that reflection, I realized that my insecurities stemmed from my recent decision to leave my career in corporate marketing and become a writer.

I feel like I'm starting over. There was so much uncertainty and so much I had to learn. Should I really be doing this right now?

But I knew that if I hadn't done one thing in my life that I would regret, the answer was to become a writer.

That's why I decided I had to start somewhere, even if it was from scratch -- building the life and career I wanted -- and that meant facing uncertainty head-on.

We all want to control our environment. Once we let go of control, we can see that change is a constant part of life.

Here are four ways I've learned to live with uncertainty. These tips will be helpful whenever you start something new or step into uncharted territory.

1. Reconstruction defects

Perfection is the shield we use to hide our true gifts.

What I find most ironic is that what I thought were my greatest imperfections are actually my greatest gifts. It's so liberating.

So first and foremost, we have to redefine what it means to be imperfect.

By accepting that our imperfections are not mistakes, but showcasing our unique gifts, we can more clearly see our strengths.

2. Avoid seeking approval from others

We all want to be accepted and loved. However, to truly live the life we want, we need to tell the truth about who we are, without first getting compliments or recognition from others.

It's a hard thing to do and it takes practice. One thing I've learned to do is keep a self-appreciation journal, where every day I acknowledge and record the things I'm most proud of, the good choices I've made, and the successes I've had.

This practice strengthens our trust in ourselves, so we don't always need to look for answers from others.

3. Rethink risk

When we start something new, there are many things we don't know for sure.

Reframing these moments of uncertainty and the results of these new actions as learning opportunities has served me well.

By taking small risks, we step out of our comfort zone and into the learning zone.

We can redefine the outcome of not going as planned, not as a mistake, but as a great way to get feedback and learn something new.

4. Know you have enough for now

It struck me that I was stuck in a list of all the things I needed to learn, master, and do before I was ready to start the career I really wanted. I need to stop waiting.

We need to let go of the stories we tell ourselves about where we should be. We become ourselves every day, over and over again. There is no arrival point.

When I feel trapped, I like to say this short affirmation: "I'm enough."

I've had enough. You had enough. We've had enough.

Build the life you want

The only constant in life is change. In order to fully embrace uncertainty, we must replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.

With an inquisitive mind, we can see new avenues leading in the direction of our dreams.

Are you ready to accept the uncertainty and build the life you want?

The world is waiting for us to tell our stories and fulfill our dreams. Let's get started.