The Struggle with Uncertainty

Uncertainty can be uncomfortable for us because our brains have an evolutionary preference for categorizing things as good or bad. We dislike it when things don't go the way we want them to, leading to discomfort and anxiety. Uncertainty and anxiety go hand in hand because our brains try to problem solve and come up with solutions, leading to overthinking and overanalysis. Accepting uncertainty and learning to tolerate anxiety are important in managing the discomfort. Avoiding anxiety actually makes it worse, as anxiety tends to grow when we avoid it. The anticipation of uncertainty often causes more distress than when the uncertain event actually happens.