Uncertain If This is a Good Title
Uncertainty is scary. All my life I’ve believed that. Until recently, I felt that if I was uncertain about something, then it was something I should avoid. This makes sense, right? To live life only doing things I was certain of, knowing what will happen next. I mean, who would move forward not knowing what would happen? It certainly is not the most comfortable position to be in. However, for something to change there must be uncertainty. Uncertainty is caused by our inability to understand ideas, our fear of new concepts, and the existence of circumstances outside of our current way of life. Put another way, certainty denies the evolution of our lives while uncertainty embraces it.
Whenever I find myself in a position where I know I’m certain, I am intoxicated with the power it gives me. I am unshakable. Impenetrable. I am absolutely right, and no one can tell me otherwise. Tell me I’m wrong and I’ll berate you with why I am right, and you are wrong. That approach is certainty lying to you. That is certainty fucking with you. That is certainty stealing from you. Stealing from your ability to learn from other people. Certainty robs you of the empathy required to change your point of view.
Don’t get me wrong, being certain allows me to fulfill my desire to have things exactly the way I think it should be. Certainty gives me the confidence to speak to my ideas, act upon my beliefs, and deliver on the strength of my word. It can be an asset to my day-to-day life, but its impact is limited by how true my certainty is.
For certainty to be effective, it requires a tremendous amount of human effort. Einstein spent years developing the theory of relativity. He didn’t just go with the first thought that came to him on the toilet, even though he knew that is where great ideas are born. Instead, he devoted his life’s works to studying, testing, and eventually proving numerous variables before finally being certain his formula was correct. He was uncertain and put in the work to make certain he could BE certain.
When I am certain, I place all my belief and reliance on my current understanding. Uncertainty spotlights the flaws and unknowns within my certainty. It pokes holes in my thought process toward a particular idea or construct. Uncertainty also can show me the imperfections within myself and my logic, which is ultimately the very thing my initial certainty hinges on.
Don’t worry, however, because uncertainty is meant to help us. It is a tool for growth. It allows us as creators, engineers, scientists, and leaders the opportunity to see flaws within our ideas. Uncertainty is a part of any creative or scientific process. Desiring to remove uncertainty completely is to deny the fact that we are imperfect beings. It is ignoring the truth that people and ideas evolve.
People of all ages develop certainties based on what is around them, but if you let those certainties sit forever, preserved in the time that they were made, then you and your certainties will be left behind. Uncertainty allows us to learn and life is so much better when you are learning throughout it. If you were born in 1930, you probably would have hated the Germans and Japanese for your entire life because once upon a time, you were certain they wanted to kill you and everyone you love. Clearly, that is no longer the case, and if you hold on to that incorrect certainty, then you are holding on to hate that should not be there. Today’s certainties are no different. There are people who are certain black people are criminals and republicans are evil. They aren’t. They believe Democrats are weak and all white people are racist. They aren’t. These certainties in your mind were created in 1930, or maybe 1970 or even just last year. If you hold on to these, they will eventually hold you back in time. Do not be afraid of uncertainty. Be afraid of how far certainty can leave you behind.
Uncertainty can lead you away from some terrible life decisions. Ultimately, uncertainty challenges our internal programs which, according to The Power of Neuroplasticity, “77% of all our programs are false, counterproductive, harmful, or work against us.” We must challenge our initial thoughts towards things because whether we’d like to admit it or not, we’re usually wrong. We should embrace uncertainty and all its nuances — the emotions, the ties to our historical behavior, our predetermined desired outcomes. Until we experience uncertainty and all its subtleties, we can never truly evolve.
Today, uncertainty has enveloped our culture. It is hard to take comfort in uncertainty when it is so ingrained in our everyday lives. A global pandemic, painful unrest within the black community, along with a looming recession, even I’ll admit that I am craving certainty about something. Anything. Nevertheless, we need to be uncertain now. We have been certain about our way of life for too long. We have ignored uncertainty despite it knocking on each of our doors. We have been led to focus on the fear surrounding the unknown without questioning the solutions it might hold. And for that fear-induced choice, our lives have been altered. For some of us, in irreparable ways. Uncertainty is still here. It is not too late to invite it in, put in the work, and develop something we can be certain will stand the test of our lifetime. Our society is yearning for change. What it doesn’t need is everyone to be certain of the solution. Instead, it requires a tremendous amount of work, empathy, and above all time. Only when we acknowledge uncertainty and embrace the evolutions it demands can we deliver positive change. So let’s embrace this uncertainty and make this world the place it needs to be.
