Certainty or uncertainty? We need them both
It has been a slow and long morning. One of those where I have a feeling that time had stopped and the whole world is waiting for me to do something. Time itself is waiting for me to grab it and make myself useful. Have you ever had that feeling of everything standing still? Frozen with you in the middle? Well... It sure did get me thinking about certainty and uncertainty and which of those is more important. Welcome to my train of thought. Buckle your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride...
CC0 licence, Pixabay, author: Pexels , adapted by me
The thing is, I never wanted to be one of those people that bi*ch around about this and that. You know by now that I look for the positive aspect in everything and keep my mind on a tight leash when it comes to drama. Sure, I am not always happy but let's say that I am 85% happy and satisfied with that number. The 15% goes of to PMS time, the period and weather changing. Yes, I said weather. For some reason, my body really hates change sometimes and whenever there is a drop or raise in the air pressure, I go bananas. That got me thinking about my preference for certainty/uncertainty and the theme for Odin's day post has come to life.
We need to be certain about a lot of things to feel safe. There are a lot of psychologists (most of them actually) that agree on how our need to feel safe is the basic one when it comes to our emotions. We need the certainty that the Sun will rise in the morning, things will grow and actions will have consequences. When we take food into our bodies, we are certain that we will not feel hungry anymore and when we set the alarm, it will wake us up.
To take things for granted
is to not have any doubt about them.
In order for us to feel comfortable with the world we live in, we need to be sure that a decent amount of written and unwritten rules will be honored. We need factional behavior. If we get hit, it will hurt and if we get a hug, it will feel nice and warm. When someone does something wrong, there is a built-in need to see that person being punished for it because we are sensitive about injustice. We want the good to be rewarded and we want to be protected by the Universal laws that tell us how being kind to others will somehow karmically bring kindness back to us. No matter how often we question if that is going to happen or get angry when it does not, there is still a certainty in us that it will. There is stability in knowing that all will be good if we are good. It brings us a certain sense of logical satisfaction. What goes up, must come down and what we give, sooner or later we must receive.
There is, however, a problem that so many people have with taking their need for certainty to extremes. Some destructive behaviors strengthen our need for certainty too. Holding onto an abusive relationship or drug habit, hoarding money or material possessions, and avoiding challenges will keep us stuck in our patterns of false stability and make us lose sight of realistic and positive aspects of having enough UNCERTAINTY in our lives.
Just like we need certainty, we need uncertainty too. Entertainment comes from surprises and excitement about new things. There is no pleasure in watching only one movie or reading only one book. No one wears the same clothes their entire life. We change our hairs and we change our opinions. We change who we spend our time with and we change our jobs. The need to feel different, special and challenged is what brings improvement.
A reasonable probability
is the only certainty
The truth is that our lives are governed by probabilities, not certainties and we love it. That doubt about will things go as we planned is what is driving us to adapt to circumstances. It is what is challenging our intelligence and making us quicker, smarter, and more resourceful. This need for variety is propelling us to take risks in life and trying new foods, people, occupations, and new places. The infinity is the presence of uncertainty and our curiosity about it is a virtue that keeps us from giving up and pushes us to explore and keep on asking questions. There is this misconception that things need to be certain to have value, they do not. There is value in searching for the truth just like it is in the truth itself. Exposure to diversity will open your mind to new possibilities, maybe even some that you thought were highly unprobable. We need things to be uncertain and vague to satisfy our need to create certainty and clarity. We need to create order but if there is no chaos, what meaning does the order have?
The problem that may arise is people turning into adrenalin junkies and constantly searching for that next high. Indulging in drama, extramarital affairs, using drugs to change how we feel or having no stability and a sense of security about our own personality are escape mazes. We will never find a way out of the maze because the maze is not really there. It is only a mental construct of our insecure need to avoid responsibility because we think we are unable to comprehend it and be successful with it.
You can take of your seatbelts now, the ride is over. I told you it was going to be a bumpy one, did I not? Were you given some food for thought? Now and then, hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted, who knows what your next answer may be.
Until next time,
KEEP YOUR SMILE ON!
Image sources AND LICENCES in order of appearance:
- all images used in this post are free for commercial use, they are royalty free with the links to original images provided under them
- line divider that I use is from FREE CLIPART LIBRARY, and is here
- title pictures are made by me using the CC0 images from pixabay that can be found here
- my bitmoji avatar was created on https://www.bitmoji.com/, visit the site to create yourown
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YEs definitely thought provoking and thanks for that its a good way to start the day thinking about things like this
I think many confuse needs with wants, I guess I am lucky in that I have travelled a lot and been to places where anything we consider a basic item for life is hard to find, whether due to civil unrest war or other conflict and that makes one truly appreciate the difference
And in many of those places I will admit one never felt 100% safe, I have bene shot at had bombs go off fairly close to me and seen people suffering from Malnutrition, and what really struck me so often in these cases I saw such a belief that things would get better and such positive attitudes, and yet I dont see that often in countries that are Ina good state
OK i digressed from your post, but you really did give me food for thought today
I looooo digression! It makes me happy that your mind works so lovely and takes you to places you did not expect. It is cute that I can provoke that with my posts. Thank you for making me smile! 💚
Well making you smile makes me smile with all the bad news we see in the world these days more smiling is needed
What a marvelous post. A little bumpy, but so worth the ride.
I have done the wants/needs assessment, and the actual needs list is pretty small. Air, food, water, shelter. Past that it's mostly wants.
I am like you, mostly happy. I am a probabilities guy and I understand them pretty well.
Thanks Petra. Per normal a thought provoking post.
I am glad you enjoyed the read and that your wants/needs are in check. Knowing what they are brings a certain feeling of control and self-actualization so good for you honey! 💚
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"uncertainty will always create new wonders." It's late here in Thailand and I'm off to bed and that is such a lovely thought to carry with me into the dreamscape. :) Thank you. x
I hope you had a good night with that line before sleep 💚
Well I must be in pretty good shape right now, I have plenty of uncertainty going on right now in my life. I trust it will all work out for the better so that is a plus.
Enjoy it while you can and love the excitement, who knows when things will get back to usual and classic way ;)
Well it is going to be exciting I am sure, time will tell.
Hello there @zen-art!! 😊
This is what I've been trying to cultivate recently in my life - to push myself deliberately (but not uncontrollably) out of my comfort zone and embrace new experiences 😊
Think in all things there has to be a balance. Like the Golden mean.
Looking forward to more of your posts ❤
That seems like a good plan and you seem to be doing well with it, keep pushing yourself and do not forget to enjoy yourself while you do it. I am glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you for your lovely comment 💚
Too much of uncertainty gives me jitters, specially when it's related to health outcomes. Lately that has been a challenge for me and my family so my thoughts go out wavering in that direction. As such I am open to accepting any results but as you say there is always that small % of us which will sometimes go bonkers, so is the case with me.💗
Stay one of the best honey 💚
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What can I say when you, as always, said it all and said it so damn well!?!😄
However, I like very much your final thought and somewhat of advice.
P.S.
BTW - keep producing your rollercoasters, I love your bumpy rides! 😉👍😀
Hihihi, I am glad you have enjoyed it and that you appreciate my bumpy rides 💚
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