uncertainty — EMPOWERED TIMES BLOG

Embracing Uncertainty: The Power in Humility

When I was a young grad student at a reputable university in the big city, I was feeling pretty darn good about myself… until I found myself alone in a foreign country at midnight. I didn’t know where I was or who I was supposed to meet. My stomach twisted with uncertainty. Did I make the wrong decision?

Deep down, we all crave certainty. Our brains are designed to predict, preserve, and protect. But this survival-oriented mindset shrinks our world and neglects to consider what happens when we’re thrust outside our comfort zone.

The antidote is humility. Being humble does not mean being submissive, docile, or soft. The great paradox is that unlike hubris or arrogance, humility arises from true inner security and an authentic self-confidence. It invites us to broaden our perspective, to have the courage to fail, to embrace a sense of humor and levity, and to accept we don’t know everything and won’t always be right. It’s also the capacity to tolerate the unknown without being paralyzed by the fear of what we can’t control.
Discover how to find strength in humility…

Growing Through Calamity

The following article is written by Billie Greer—a public policy advisor, retired lobbyist, business leader, consultant, activist, feminist, and mentor to many (including me!)

Crises happen. In our world. In our nation. In our everyday lives. When we face a crisis, as most of us will, we feel overwhelmed. Powerless. Fear sets in.

Disaster or hope? The answer is determined, in large measure, by how one reacts to a crisis and manages that crisis. “Calamity 101” steals a page from the experiences of corporations and leaders who have successfully handled crises.

Consider these steps, when a crisis is upon you, to help deal with the situation and to gain some level of control over what is happening as you seek potential resolution of the issue at hand. You either advance or stay where you are, and the latter is not where you want to be. By taking action, you empower yourself and you will be stronger for it.

Finding Your Treasure During the Ebb Tide

The still and stagnant moments in our life feel scarier than the crises and chaos. Maybe it’s situational, seasonal, economic, or cosmic (some planet must be in retrograde somewhere!), but whatever it is, the phone stops ringing. The vibrant social momentum we once enjoyed seems muted and still. Our health goals, income, or relationship situation can suddenly plateau for no apparent reason.

The term “flow” has become a familiar concept in the world of pop psychology, and is associated with heightened productivity, focus, timelessness, and creativity. The flow of the ocean offers a sense of energy, life, and motion, but when we are so preoccupied with catching the wave, we neglect the more subtle beauty of the ocean’s ebb. The ebb tide reveals something rich, interesting, and alive if we have the courage to explore it. The silence, stillness, and emptiness may provide unexpected benefits. Discover how what seems like nothingness might actually be full of possibility.

The Agency in Our Attitude ~ Keep the Blue Side Up!

I grew up in and surrounded by airplanes. After 9/11, I developed a sudden fear of flying. My father was a naval aviator, turned commercial airline pilot, and I would call him before boarding any flight. He would talk me through the technicalities and statistics to support the probability of my survival. He would end each call with the sound advice common among aviators: “Keep the blue side up!” The instruction is encouraging and simple: when in doubt, keep yourself upright. It’s an expression of encouragement and trust.

The “blue side” refers to an instrument in the cockpit called the “attitude indicator,” which helps the pilot to orient to the horizon and the blue sky above it. The aeronautical term “attitude” doesn’t refer to whether the pilot is in a good or bad mood, but rather as a way to determine how to proceed with confidence. Weather conditions change and storms are inevitable. Life, like hurtling through the air in a metal can, can get bumpy. Turbulence wakes us up and reminds us to pay attention. We encounter gloomy moods and gloomy skies. We get disoriented. By “keeping the blue side up,” we have a general point of reference, an “attitude” that supports us, as we navigate through our journey.

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