As a coach and entrepreneur, I’ve been thinking a lot about the desire of guaranteed victory without the uncertainty of knowing whether something will work or fail. I believe this struggle is true for all people, but especially those in athletics.
So how do I deal with uncertainty?
First of all, I think it is incredibly important to understand that uncertainty is unavoidable. Every athlete, coach, nurse, parent, student and entrepreneur struggles with and is forced to deal with uncertainty. Knowing this relieves some of the burden.
Second, figure out what I can control. I can control my choices. Over time my choices become my habits and my habits become my identity. James Clear’s book Atomic Habits gave me some practical strategies to control my choices. I would encourage you to check it out.
This, by no means, provides the ultimate answer for dealing with uncertainty, but I hope it gets your wheels turning. If this topic sparks your interest, I would encourage you to check out Josh Kaufman’s book How To Fight a Hydra.
“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is,
And knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”