On Embracing Uncertainty

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.”

-Rainer Maria Rilke

This quote is about having the willingness to remain in uncertainty. I had heard this quote before but it didn’t click until recently when I read it again in a book. Tolerating uncertainty is very challenging. Uncertainty is associated with lack of control and that can be very anxiety provoking. There is an overwhelming level of discomfort that is experienced with not knowing or not having answers, and we instinctively prefer to avoid that discomfort.

My understanding is that tolerating uncertainty is not about doing something to resolve it or to remove the discomfort that comes with it. Tolerating uncertainty is about leaning into the discomfort of not knowing, not having answers and explanations, or not being in control, and accepting that. To remain in uncertainty is to be present with anxiety and observe the feelings and thoughts associated with it non-judgementally. This is the essence of mindfulness practice. I think letting go of having control, fixing, or finding answers is a challenging task and takes conscious effort and practice.