“How to Overcome Your Fear of the Unknown,” by Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr

 

Empower Yourself in the Face of Uncertainty

It’s natural to fear the unknown, but uncertainty doesn’t have to be debilitating. Here’s how to empower yourself to step confidently into the unknown and seize the opportunities it presents. Reframe. Every situation has upsides and downsides. When faced with uncertainty, focus on the former, rather than the latter. Prime yourself. There are many types of risks: financial, intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and so on. Identify which ones you have a natural aversion to or affinity with. This will help you approach uncertain situations with more self-awareness and confidence. Take small steps. If you’re unsure how a situation or idea will play out, starting modestly can be more effective and less anxiety-provoking than trying to do everything at once. Prepare yourself for setbacks. It’s frustrating when something doesn’t turn out the way you’d hoped or intended. Allow yourself to feel disappointed and frustrated, then ask yourself, “What insights can I take away from this?” You’ll be able to learn from the setback and adopt a new approach.

This tip is adapted from “How to Overcome Your Fear of the Unknown,” by Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr