7 Ways to Deal with Feelings of Uncertainty

If 2020 had an official theme, it would be uncertainty. With a dangerous virus, business shutting downs and major civil movement as part of our new normal, it's enough to set even the least-anxious person over the edge. Know that if you are feeling stressed, anxious and uncertain, that's perfectly normal, justified and you are not alone. 

The good news is that there are things you can do to center yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. While we can't stop pandemics, natural disasters or time, it helps to focus on what you can control—yourself. 

Here are 6 techniques for coping with uncertainty (now and always): 

Take Care of YOU 
We can't stress how important self-care is, especially when everything around you feels stressful and uncertain. The recent times have thrown us off our normal routines and made things less structured, so now is a great time to begin developing new healthy habits and focus on inner self-work. Creating healthy routines and habits for yourself will act as positive anchors in your everyday life that you can count on for a sense of control. Actions like exercise, healthy eating, keeping a clean space or pouring passion into a project you've been wanting to work on, will allow you to transform into your higher self. Use this time to dig deep into what you want out of life, what goals you have in mind and begin working towards those things. By the time things begin to be a little more stable, you'll be unstoppable. 

Be Kind
The last thing the world needs is more animosity. We've seen how these times can bring out the worst in people and truly what the world needs now, is love.  Help out a loved one, display random acts of kindness without the need to show it off to social media, learn about your fellow peers and what they are going through to better understand them, don't judge people for their beliefs and don't get involved in heated discussions with people who aren't open-minded and willing to change when proven wrong. Remember that everyone is going through something right now. For some people, these times haven't changed much in their lives and for others, this has been incredibly destructive to their livelihood. Try to help out when you can whether it's volunteering, donating, contacting a loved one or even just listening to someone who needs to vent. Be the positive change that is so needed right now. 

Take Action Over What You CAN Control 
Accepting what is going on right now, the feelings that you have about it and taking control of how you express these feelings is key in taking action and control of your life. There are a lot of things going on right now that we cannot control, that we must abide by and that we are being asked to do even when we don't want to. But if we can control our emotions and actions, at least we know that we are certain within ourselves. Controlling things like your daily routines, your diet, how you speak to and treat others, how you spend your money and the information you choose to digest, can help you feel confident in times of uncertainty. Allow yourself to accept any emotions you have and give yourself permissions to feel those feelings. 

Practice Gratitude 
It's easy to focus on the negative when we are constantly being fed bad news from the media, when our favorite places and businesses are shutting down, when our jobs are being compromised and our health is put at risk by just doing what we normally do. But if you can learn to shift your focus to the things you are grateful for, you'll find that you have quite a few things to feel positive about. At the very very least, if you are reading this, you are alive. Start there and then begin to see that there's a lot to grateful for no matter how big or small. Research shows that simply starting to think about something you’re grateful for releases serotonin, which gives you a mood boost, and dopamine, which encourages your brain to keep looking for things to appreciate. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to shift your focus to gratitude. 

Don't Seek Perfection 
Because it doesn't exist. If perfection is your goal, you are setting yourself up for failure and then you'll find yourself in a negative space and losing sight of the things that can help strengthen you. This year was a major plot twist in everyone's plans. If things are not going your way, know that you are not alone and that with the right attitude, you can use this feeling to improve, to grow and to create new opportunities for yourself. 

Be Willing to Adapt 
With all the societal changes made in 2020, adjusting and adapting is going to be far more beneficial than being resistant—because things are going to change no matter what. Look at these changes as an opportunity to expand your knowledge, to find new ways of doing things and to use your skills for the greater good. Be open to shifting your behavior and mindset, to educating yourself on topics you were once unfamiliar with and to evolving into a stronger, more resilient being. When we realized that our events might not be able to happen this year due to COVID-19, the next best thing was going virtual because we knew everyone was at home, online and still in need of some fun and Naughty times. So we started Naughty Nights on Friday evenings, hosted a few virtual happy hours and we're now providing a virtual alternative to Naughty N'awlins in addition to the actual event, for those who don't feel comfortable coming to the event. Rather than shutdown and put ourselves on hold, we adapted to the times and provided a way for our Naughty community to maintain a sense of adventure during lock-down by creating Naughty Video Chat.

Don't Lose Hope 
Don't allow hard times to stop you from working on your goals and aspirations. The worst thing you can do is give up and stay complacent. If you can allow yourself to adapt, focus on yourself and see the good in things, you'll be able to go with the flow better. Uncertainty is only a lack of comfort and an opportunity for great transformation. Soon you'll be able to travel again, come to Naughty Events, give hand shakes and high fives and live a life that feels more stable, yet improved from all the inner work you're doing. 

In Bob's words "We will get through this, but we need to be smart and proactive." Read his "Dare to Dream" article that talks about uncertainties in the lifestyle during unprecedented times.