It is nothing new that we live in uncertain times. Uncertainty can be uncomfortable. We are wired since birth to control our environment. There is comfort on some level with having stability between our past and future. Living in the moment is something foreign to most of us as we like to feel in control of our lives. Therefore, it comes natural to din ourselves feeling uncomfortable when the future is uncertain being in the present moment.
The reality is that in our unpredictable and fast changing world, it’s those individuals who are committed to embrace uncertainty and take decisive action along with risk despite the unknown that will reap the greatest rewards. It is a fact that no worthwhile aspiration in business or life can be achieved without coming out of our comfort zone. Only in giving up the security of the known can we create new opportunities, grow capability, build confidence and expand our influence. We can never hope to achieve success unless we’re willing to embrace the unknown and get comfortable with the innate discomfort of risk taking.
Success is a continuous process. We must continually assess whether we are letting our fear of the unknown keep us from taking action to move us forward. If you’re not sure whether it is, then ask yourself what you would do if you weren’t afraid of failing. It is important to be honest and not over analyze the first thought or answer that comes to mind. It is usually this first message that will point you in the direction that best serves your purpose.
It is important to note that willing to take a risk and step into unknown territory does not mean everything you try will work out. But as every successful person will tell you, it’s only by being willing to risk and learn from mistakes or failures that you can accomplish more than what’s been done before. It is also important to know how to explain our failures to ourselves by asking the following questions.
- What new actions would you take that you have not done before?
- What would you say to yourself and others that you have been avoiding?
- Are you open to being transparent as a leader and by doing so be open to new opportunities, alliances, and ideas to take form?
A decade from now there will be people who have achieved massive success in their field s of endeavor. These people are not the ones that played it safe and stuck to their usual routines. Rather, they will be people who have continued to continuously come out of their comfort zone on a daily basis and embrace uncertainty as part of the process to sustainable success. Learn to embrace uncertainty. It will enrich your life rather than diminish it in the long run.
To your health & prosperity,
Christopher Salem
