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Daily Question, July 3

When living with uncertainty feels challenging, what in-the-moment practice(s) help me?

  • Varsha

    Walking or reading to my rescue always.

  • Kimmy

    Prayer, music and singing.

  • Mary Pat
    I do my best to get quiet and find that space inside of me that I can connect to...this is difficult for me because I can't do it if my husband is talking, or the dog wants attention., in other words, if there is a big distraction I have to wait..... I try though. It is not easy. Once I can find a quiet place and connect to that space, I let myself feel the uncertainty. I find this helps me. Ignoring it does not. Then I bring that uncertainty into that space and let myself feel it, no matter...

    I do my best to get quiet and find that space inside of me that I can connect to…this is difficult for me because I can’t do it if my husband is talking, or the dog wants attention., in other words, if there is a big distraction I have to wait….. I try though. It is not easy. Once I can find a quiet place and connect to that space, I let myself feel the uncertainty. I find this helps me. Ignoring it does not. Then I bring that uncertainty into that space and let myself feel it, no matter how big it is. After awhile, it dissipates and is manageable. I remember that I am not the only one feeling this, that I am not alone. So then I breathe in that uncertainty, and I breathe it out. And after a bit, I breathe in and out understanding, wisdom or whatever is appropriate, and visualize all the people in the world that are feeling the same as I am. And I send out understanding and wisdom to them as well.
    It doesn’t matter what it is…realizing I am not the only one having this same uncertainty in my life helps me. I end with a lovingkindness meditation for myself, and then all beings everywhere who are in this same situation. It takes about 10 minutes, depending on how anxious I am, but it seems to work if I can get the time to do it.

    Read More
    • Palm

      Mary Pat, I get up in the morning before anyone else in the house to get that precious quiet time. I will try your practice next time, thank you

      • Mary Pat

        Me too. I make sure I get some time before anyone else, even the dog, gets up. And sometimes, when I wake up in the middle of the night, the practice can be very helpful. But during the daytime, it can be difficult for me to find that time. if I need it. Somehow, it eventually all works out….may you be held by love, in love, and with love.

        • Palm

          Thank you for your kind words. Warmly, Palm.

  • Malag

    So many, like meditation and morning practice to anchor some certainty. But I’ll pick one odd one that helps me with all the ruminations that go with uncertainty that usually spiral into the apocalyptic. I’ll walk in a room and say to myself a number of times “I cannot walk on this floor”. Clearly I am able, but I’m saying I’m not. So there’s a distancing of brain thoughts and it helps me separate from believing everything my brain spews out. 

    • Butterfly

      I love that, Malag, I’m going to try that! Thanks for sharing 🤗

      • Malag

        Good, Butterfly. Daft as it may sound it’s part of a toolkit in a psychological framework called Acceptance Commitment Therapy.

  • Dusty Su

    By reflecting on how insignificant the situations, anxiety, and stress will be a year from now. My history tells me this is so and will be so.

  • Mica

    Remembering past uncertainties and my ability to live with them and live through them.

  • Don Jones

    Knowing that only the present moment is inevitable. The next is a possibility and the previous is only a memory.

  • dcdeb

    Any practice that gets more oxygen into the body like exercise. Talking with others always helps.

  • Lauryn

    Just sitting outside on my porch listening to the birds, the wind, and the trees creaking nearby.

  • Linda

    Breathing, and acceptance that an answer is forthcoming.

  • Neil

    Uncertainty is usually caused from past regrets or future anxiety so my go to remedy for uncertainty is to use tools to become more present and connected to the now ie meditation, yoga, qigong…simple mindful breathing is the trick.

  • Anna

    Prayer, and good friends.

  • Patricia
    Just stopping and looking and listening for the unexpected gift that may be right there in front of me. Breathing. Opening. As I pondered the answer to this question just now, I'm sitting on the deck outside and a male purple finch landed 6 feet from me on the top of the shepherd's hook holding the bird feeder - and opened his beak and sang. He paused and sang again, twice more. Oh beautiful bird, thank you. Oh God, thank you for these lovely creations of your hand. You steady me through ...

    Just stopping and looking and listening for the unexpected gift that may be right there in front of me. Breathing. Opening. As I pondered the answer to this question just now, I’m sitting on the deck outside and a male purple finch landed 6 feet from me on the top of the shepherd’s hook holding the bird feeder – and opened his beak and sang. He paused and sang again, twice more. Oh beautiful bird, thank you. Oh God, thank you for these lovely creations of your hand. You steady me through your presence.

    Read More
  • Antoinette

    Prayer and surrender- let go with gratitude.

  • pkr

    Prayer. Surrender. Breathing. Walking. Nature. 🙏❤️🙏

  • Holly in Ohio
    In my toolbox: Remembering that at least 90% of that which we worry about -- never happens! BNATNA - Something I got out of The Book of Yes. It stands for "Best Next Alternative to Negotiated Agreement," but the concept can be used for more than negotiations. In other words, when life is uncertain, develop a best next alternate plan. It is amazing to me how this calms me down. I highly recommend the book, by the way. I would say it is in the top 20 (maybe even top 10) non-fiction books I...

    In my toolbox:

    Remembering that at least 90% of that which we worry about — never happens!

    BNATNA – Something I got out of The Book of Yes. It stands for “Best Next Alternative to Negotiated Agreement,” but the concept can be used for more than negotiations. In other words, when life is uncertain, develop a best next alternate plan. It is amazing to me how this calms me down. I highly recommend the book, by the way. I would say it is in the top 20 (maybe even top 10) non-fiction books I’ve read in my life. It is a book about coming together with people and finding common ground, and it is about peace!

    Tricking overwhelm when I need to, by biting off a little bit of the problem and doing something about it. Keeping in motion dispels overwhelm.

    And of course also in my toolbox:
    Meditation.
    Nature.
    Self-care.
    Friends.

    Read More
    • GratefulOne

      Holly, this book sounds great. Is the title
      Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In?

      • Holly in Ohio

        Yes, Craig. I think the publisher may have chosen the title to help sell the book to business folk, but the title I think is misleading. It is much more about finding common ground with others, whether it is international peace negotiations, or even a husband and wife trying to come together on something when they are in conflict. The ideas could be applied to race relations, political divisiveness, anything.

  • GratefulOne
    I struggle with uncertainty. The first thing that comes to mind for dealing with uncertainty is I check my values. Even though things are uncertain, am I living by my values? Living by my values brings me a sense of stability and helps brings things into perspective. And yet… this quote comes to mind “To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s-land, to experience each moment as comple...

    I struggle with uncertainty. The first thing that comes to mind for dealing with uncertainty is I check my values. Even though things are uncertain, am I living by my values? Living by my values brings me a sense of stability and helps brings things into perspective.

    And yet… this quote comes to mind

    “To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.” ~Pema Chodron

    It is not easy, but I try to embrace and be curious about the uncertainty and groundlessness. Another thing that helps is to think… others are in the same boat. I think that is called : being human.

    We have a situation that is going on in my church that is uncertain and quite frankly is aggravating. I will “just be” with this uncertainty. Give it to God and “ride the wave”, I guess. Maybe try to be grateful for it??? Thanks for allowing me to ramble

    Read More
    • Holly in Ohio

      I found that “ramble” quite helpful! Thank you, Craig. I will try some of that next time. I like the “curiosity” part!

  • devy

    Méditation.,going for a walk in nature, focusing on breathing..smiling..

  • Michele

    Going with the flow, learning to apply that more and more.

  • EJP

    Surround myself with my multitude of blessings and reiterate my life of gratitude.

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