Befriending Uncertainty [#11]

As life becomes more uncertain, here is how to deal with it

Our brains work in a linear fashion. We predict the future based on the past.

Has the stock market always gone up in the last 50 years? We think it will do so in the coming 50 years.

The key to a good life for the last 50 years has been getting a stable job in a big enterprise and climbing the career ladder? It will be the same for the next 50 years.

The problem is, we don't live in a linear world. We live in an exponential age.

We need 3% economic growth worldwide every year in order to keep the system running. 3% growth every year is exponential growth. It’s doubling the world economy every 25 years.

And if you look at the development of technology over the last 5 years compared to the 5 years before, you get the idea that change is picking up speed.

We are entering uncharted territory.

We have been in overshoot of ​planetary boundaries​ for a while now.

We are developing godlike technology, while we don’t develop godlike wisdom and compassion.

We are still doubling down on economic growth even though we know that endless growth on a finite planet doesn’t work.

But what we know is that the future is uncertain. It can go in different ways.

It might be that we go down the road of AI-driven dystopia, or we move towards a regenerative future where robots do all the unpleasant work and we can make art and massage each other.

In the old world of the boomer generation, the future was pretty certain.

"Get a good education to get a good job, buy a house, work until you retire."

In the new world of Generation Y and younger, the future is uncertain.

"Not sure what to learn because AI will take all the jobs, houses are too expensive, ecological destruction is threatening my future, and there probably won't be a social system when I retire."

Most people keep pretending like the future is certain. That life will stay that way, and that there is security in doing what we have always done.

That is a big problem.

We need to face uncertainty and take action to influence the future towards something life-sustaining.

Learning to navigate uncertainty is maybe the most crucial skill of our time.

Those who can tolerate “not knowing” can use imagination and creativity to discover and create genuinely new solutions (or old solutions in new contexts).

We need to develop the ability to sit with uncertainty.

How do you do this?

Practice imagination

One thing you can do is to train your ability to imagine a better future outside of the current “normal”.

Your imagination unleashed provides you with a sense of certainty and vision that goes far beyond the limitations of the past.

One thing I am trying with this newsletter is to inspire you with ideas or solutions that can work in our favour to live a more meaningful and joyful life in changing times.

What would a regenerative life look like for you? What can you do to work towards it?

Imagine regularly what a better future might look like.

It won’t come around the corner right then, but it will manifest down the road if you keep imagining it and taking steps towards it.

“Everything you believe in begins to exist” - Ilse Aidinger

5 years ago, I started imagining living in nature and community, and just this year, I made the move to do that and to start building a regenerative village.

I hope you can manifest your imagined future a bit sooner ;-)

Train adaptability

We, the homo sapiens, are the survivors of all hominoid species, because we were the most adaptable (and we were great at cooperating).

Being able to adapt to new environments, people, and situations is a key skill in navigating uncertainty.

It requires being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Every time you put yourself in an unknown situation, you are uncomfortable at first. You are out of your comfort zone. And that’s where the magic happens. You adapt to it, and you slowly get more comfortable with it.

Train your adaptability by exposing yourself to new situations, challenges, or people.

Go solo backpacking, change jobs, talk to random people, or move to a different country.

You will adapt and prevail and become more resilient to what’s coming in the future.

Build resilience

What does real security come from? Many would say money. You can buy yourself security by buying food or a bunker.

But history has shown that when shit hits the fan, like a hurricane impact, it is not money that brings security, it’s community. It's neighbours caring for each other, sharing resources, working together to prevail.

To navigate uncertainty, build community.

Get to know your neighbours to start building a resilient neighbourhood.

Learn skills that you can share with others that might be useful in an uncertain future, like growing food, building with wood, and being a problem-solver.

Focus on your circle of influence

Too often, we get carried away by negative “what if” thoughts. We spend a lot of energy on wishing things were different - more certain.

That’s not helping.

Ask “What can I control?” to put yourself in charge.

Stoic philosophy teaches us that we can control our attitudes, thoughts & actions.

So focus on that.

You can’t change the world at once. You can’t make it certain.

But you can befriend uncertainty gracefully so you can live a more meaningful and joyful life in changing times.

Happy regeneration,
Jonas