The One Mindset Shift That Turns “What If I Fail?” Into “What If I Fly?”

Accepting uncertainty can become your superpower

Maybe this is you: You are 45 years old and facing a career crossroads, or maybe 52 and watching your last child head off to college. You might even be 48 and considering a divorce, or 41 and pondering if it is too late to pursue that long-awaited dream business.

Does one of these scenarios invoke a knot in your stomach? That dreaded voice saying, “What if I make the wrong move”? and the need to have all pieces of the puzzle in place first. Your heartbeat accelerates, your palms turn sweaty, and every inch of you is screaming, “I need some assurance on what the future holds".

The common misconception is that fear of the unknown is a weakness, but the reality is, it’s a defense mechanism your brain is activating, and that’s a good thing.

The Illusion of Control

It turns out that a good chunk of what we worry about never happens. Studies show that 85% of our worries never come to fruition, and even the ones that do turn out far better than we expect.

Worrying uses a large amount of mental energy, especially if it’s something that’s out of your control.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Our minds are master storytellers, but usually uncertainty causes these stories to become horror stories. We make up disaster-movie scenarios. "What if I lose my job?" turns into “What if I lose my job, can’t pay rent, lose my home and live in a cardboard box under a bridge and my family disowns me?”

Our brains are not good at predicting positive outcomes when we’re anxious.

Reframing the Unknown

What if the unknown does not have to be your enemy? What if those unpleasant feelings mean that you are about to embark on something significant?

Instead of seeing the unknown as an obstacle, perceive it as an opportunity. You might say, “I don’t have the slightest idea what comes next,” but what may happen is a version of yourself you’d be excited to welcome.

The Paradox of Certainty

Here’s the uncomfortable truth. The more we chase certainty, the more anxious we become. It's a cruel paradox.

Think of people you admire, from entrepreneurs and artists and writers and innovators. What do they have in common? They have learned to dance with uncertainty.

They have learned that the flip side of the unknown is opportunity.

Letting Go

When you’re trying to take steps forward, stop focusing on controlling the situation. Instead use that same energy directed toward creating the life you want.

When you stop needing guarantees and proof, you can then shift your focus onto what matters. What truly matters is to be able to invest your emotional and mental energies toward what will make you happy.

A Final Reflection

Lack of structure is uncomfortable. Emotions, feelings, and everything that is the root of life stems from discomfort.

Treat uncertainty as a companion rather than an enemy.

We all deal with uncertainty, but you can decide whether it becomes a roadblock, or if it produces change.

Remember start small. Test out your uncertainty tolerance with daily, small changes. During your next meal out, order a different dish than usual. Use a different exit when leaving for work. Pay attention to small bits of uncertainty.

A Final Thought

Humans find discomfort in uncertainty. Growth is uncomfortable.

The aim is not to eliminate uncertainty (which is impossible to do) or to love it (which is unrealistic).

Your future self, the one who decides to make the leap, take that jump, embrace the change, or accept that opportunity, is waiting for you on the other side of uncertainty.

The answer is not whether you’ll be greeted with uncertainty. That answer is a definite yes.

Instead, the answer to think about is: Will you allow the fear of uncertainty to paralyze your next steps?