Since the dawn of time, humans have been in the pursuit of answers, we seek to uncover truths, predict future and ultimately gain certainty.
We think ‘figuring it all out’ will bring us peace. When we finally have all the answers, all our problems will be resolved.
Not much to my surprise all we end up with is anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt.
The human brain is designed to seek patterns. It’s not built for uncertainty- it is a prediction machine.
This quest for certainty began ages ago…
Imagine our dear primitive ancestors, walking in a deep dark jungle, hear a sound from the bushes, for all they knew it could be a life-threatening predator!
This fear of potential threat engraved in human minds an intolerance to uncertainty, which is what we know today as the ‘fear of unknown’.
Today, we too have an army of ‘mental predators’ present in our lives. They come in the form of unsettled careers, ambiguous relationships and unpredictable future.
These mental predators come across and pose a threat to us. They hinder with our peace of mind and expose our emotions to potential jeopardy, leaving us with a sense of helplessness.
And for that reason, we are always trying to predict the outcome and minimize incertitude.
Under the guise of certainty, what we truly seek is to gain a sense of control, a sense of psychological and emotional security.
People can’t help but read horoscope, check weather forecast, scrutinize stock market predictions on a regular basis. Craving assurance comes in different sizes and colors!
The irony of life is that humans are designed to predict and the future is designed to be unpredictable!
This makes the ‘quest for certainty, a quest of illusions’.
Upon reflection, I come to think that maybe uncertainty is not such a bad thing, after all…
In the absence of certitude, in a yearning for assurance, something extraordinary, something magical happens.
It is in the discomfort of doubt where human curiosity takes birth. It serves as a fertile ground for creativity to thrive.
It was Columbus’s curiosity that took him all the way from Europe to a massive new continent, opening up infinite opportunities for exploration.
Columbus wasn’t sure where exactly he’s headed or what horrors await him along the way. He sailed through anyway and discovered the “New World”.
In the pursuit of answers, man learns to ask the right questions!
“The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainly is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers”.
My Unsolicited Advice ~ Maria Syed 
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