The Wisdom of Uncertainty

The essence of ego-centered consciousness is to keep things safe, certain, and predictable. As the worldwide pandemic seemed to recede earlier this year, there was a hypomanic rush to “get back to normal.” We have all felt so terribly isolated, frightened, battered, and traumatized. Yet in truth, there is no going back to the way things used to be. In our mainstream culture uncertainty has often been perceived as a mistake, even a madness. Yet it is precisely in moments of uncertainty that new potentials and paradigms emerge. When we rush too quickly to “normalize” — through materialistic orgies of consumption, diversions and addictions for anxiety management, or via spiritual bypassing — we kill the seed of the new spirit. We can learn to find composure in change and wisdom in uncertainty. Are we up to the task?