If you hold onto a fear of the unknown, you’ll be stuck in both the present and the future.
If you learn to embrace the unknown, you will unlock your full potential!
Someone once said that life is what happens to us while we are busy making other plans.
That statement has been ringing in my ears for a while now because it’s totally, undoubtedly TRUE!
And do you know how I know this? Because I’ve spent half of my life thinking about every possible outcome and potential life challenges that come with the future.
I didn’t want to accept that some things (or better said the majority of things) cannot be controlled and I had a fear of an uncertain future.
I was busy making tons of other plans in case one of them failed.
But, there was always one thing that I couldn’t predict and that was the natural flow of LIFE.
I thought that if I had a plan B for every situation, there would be no chance of things going south or being out of my control.
But, the truth is that life always finds a way to teach you that things are not supposed to be under our control.
I wasted tons of my time on fearing and “adjusting to” the unknown only to finally realize that the reality is we have no idea what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year and so on.
We can predict things, but until they start happening, we cannot influence them.
The only time we have the power to change things is in the present moment and until then, the unknown is inevitable.
And that’s the real beauty of it!
Embracing the unknown and preparing for every possible outcome is the only thing that will unlock our full potential and prepare us for the journey called Life.
How To Embrace The Unknown
Stop overthinking and live in the moment
When it comes to embracing the unknown, the most important thing is to stop overthinking and focus on things in front of you.
Embrace every moment and stop thinking about life as a scary blank page.
I understand that uncertainty is one of the worst things, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be so.
All you need to do is use your five senses and focus on being in the moment.
When you focus on the current situation instead on What if, your perspective on things will significantly change.
Remember that everything is in your head and your thoughts have the power to shape your reality.
Don’t compare the present with the past
If something bad is happening to you right now (be it in your personal or professional life), don’t compare it with something similar that happened in the past. Why?
Because you might overthink the whole situation, and do something stupid out of a fear that the worst will happen (if something like that has already happened to you).
Remember that every situation is unique, and therefore, it requires unique solutions.
Instead of fearing, accept things as they are and be curious about them
Whatever happens in life, don’t fear things. Instead, accept them as they are and be eager to learn more about them.
Curiosity awakens attention and creativity, which are the two main components of solution seeking and problem solving.
Don’t focus on negative emotions or curse everything and everyone around you, but focus on finding a solution and making the best of every situation.
Strive to learn from life’s challenges and you’ll be more than prepared for everything in the future.
You will no longer dwell on the fear of the unknown because you’ll be more self-confident and ready to do everything in your power in accordance with the situation.
In other words, you will no longer be a passive observer, but an active participant in your life.
See also: How To Let Go Of Everything: 12 Secrets To Ultimate Freedom
Embrace the fun of the unknown
Instead of seeing the unknown as a threat, focus on embracing the fun that comes with it.
Life is supposed to be diverse and challenging because these things help us evolve and become the best versions of ourselves.
Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, find a new hobby, read a new book, attend an online course, watch inspiring TV shows, start a podcast, or go bungee jumping.
Face your fears and gather courage to do scary, embarrassing things. Keep telling yourself that you can do it and you will do it!
Instead of seeking other people’s approval, focus on having fun while working on boosting your own.
The only rule here is that there is no rule. As long as you’re having fun embracing the unknown, then you know you’re doing it right!
Focus on embracing things you already have
We often forget to praise things we already have because we’re solely focused on those that we don’t have (yet).
So, we spend a great amount of time contemplating the day when we’ll finally have everything we’ve ever wanted.
But, thinking about it and worrying is just a waste of time because nothing is guaranteed in the first place.
Life is full of give and take and you don’t know what will happen the next second, let alone tomorrow or the next year.
That’s why you need to focus on being grateful for the things you already have (your family, friends, job) because those things are REAL at the moment and they deserve to be worshipped.
Find a silver lining in every situation
I know that this one is easier said than done, but trust me, you can do it!
No matter how difficult and complex the situation is, always strive to find a silver lining.
This could be just anything. For example, if you got just fired, don’t immediately think that you’re doomed and you’ll never find another job.
Instead, think about how this is a nice opportunity to find an EVEN BETTER job than the one you had.
When you stop overthinking, you’ll excel at goal setting because your positive vibes will inspire the Universe to work in your favor!
See also: Here’s Why Change Is Necessary For Personal Development And Growth
Accept the fact that things will never be perfect (and that’s more than okay)
And, finally, you need to learn to embrace the imperfection in every single aspect of your life (from your appearance to personality).
Keep in mind that every single one of us has a million quirks and flaws and that’s what makes us special.
Instead of worrying about reaching perfection, turn your fears into self-discovery, love yourself, and strive to do your best each day!
Always bear in mind that life could throw you a curveball at any moment and it’s not something you should be afraid of.
Instead, embrace the unknown, find a silver lining, and believe that everything happens for a reason!
Why Embracing The Unknown Is The Key To Ultimate Happiness
The unknown teaches you different perspectives
Imagine if every day was the same. You wake up, you go to work, you come home, you chill, you go to sleep, and you do all that on repeat.
Imagine that there is nothing to interfere with this schedule (like sickness, broken car and similar).
Wouldn’t life be a little bit dull if you knew every single thing that was going to happen next and that nothing bad would happen in the meantime?
Probably. You see, the unknown has the power to teach you different perspectives because the unknown is colorful and diverse.
It challenges you and teaches you valuable lessons that make you wiser, bolder and stronger; that prepare you for the future.
Embracing the unknown prepares you for anything
The unknown doesn’t only prepare you for the future, but it prepares you for anything.
When you know that you have no control over certain things and you choose to accept them as they are and do your best, there’s no place for fear in your life.
You’re prepared for anything that might happen because you don’t live in an illusion where things have to be the way you imagined them.
You know that no matter how hard you tried to be in control, this is not doable in the long run.
When you don’t have limited expectations, you’re ready to accept a wide array of things and emotions: loss, gain, happiness, sadness.
You’re not afraid of experiencing any of it because you embrace every change in your life equally.
It helps you accept a lack of control and go with the flow
For a lot of people, a lack of control is one of the scariest things in the world. But, this shouldn’t be so.
When you learn to embrace the unknown, you will let go of fear and you will no longer have the need to worry about things you can’t control.
Instead, you will focus on the things that you can control.
You realize that the only thing you can control is your reactions
You cannot control what will happen next or what someone else will do or say, but you can control the way you react to those situations.
For example, one of your colleagues has a terrible day and they start arguing with you for no reason.
Now, you can choose to continue arguing with them and hold grudges, or you can choose to withdraw in a silent, professional way because it’s evident that they’re having a bad day.
By controlling your reactions, you have the power to control things around you – which is really great!
See also: What Is True Happiness (And The Secrets To Attaining It)
Embracing the unknown makes you humble and fearless
There’s something ultimately beautiful about people who are not afraid of embracing the unknown.
They are both humble and brave because they go with the flow and act accordingly.
The truth is that the world needs more people who are humble and fearless because that’s the most powerful combo!
The world needs more people who understand that some things are not meant to be changed, but instead need to be embraced.
Whenever you need a quick reminder of that, read (or listen to) the following lyrics of one of the most inspiring songs, Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day:
“Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life.”
See also: Trust Me, You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be Right Now