Significant Uncertainty in Our Lives

After two years of our “New Normal” caused by COVID-19, we are still dealing with significant uncertainty in our lives.

People, in general, do not like uncertainty.  We seem to be built in such a way that we want to know what is happening, why it is happening and how long it will last.  Some people like total control over a situation, other people are ok with some element of control.  Very few people are 100% ok with absolutely no control at all over a situation. 

Uncertainty robs us of control, it robs us of the knowledge of why, when, what, where and how.  Uncertainty robs us of a clear vision of what the future holds.  In fact, uncertainty leaves us grasping at “what if’s” and struggling with “what is next”.  Uncertainty, especially like the situation caused by the COVID-19 Virus, can easily cause people to become fearful, stressed and more anxious about daily life.

 

 

 

 

Our brains are wired in such a way that when we do not have all the information as to why something is happening, we tend to create our own reasons why.  The stories we create and the reasons we come up with are rarely ever positive.  I don’t know about you, but I usually come up with the least favorable reasons, which only creates more anxiety, stress, and fear.

However, it is also important to remember that these emotions are natural. They are as natural as the air we breathe, and they are there to serve us.  There is nothing “wrong” with a person if they are feeling these emotions. Consider the current reality caused by the COVID-19 virus. We have been dealing with this “new reality” now for two full years.

We’ve had family members, friends and other loved ones lose jobs.  We have family members stricken by this virus, who have small businesses that are at risk of shutting down. Come to think of it, it would be unnatural for us to not feel stress and be worried in a situation like this.


How many of you have hit a fog bank driving down the interstate? What happens in a situation like this?  Do you continue at the same rate of speed or does the reality of the fog bank cause you to act differently? Usually, a driver slows down and increases their focus.  Anxiety levels increase, you worry about what is ahead of you on the road that you cannot see.  You experience stress, you turn down the radio, tell the kids to be quiet so you can focus.  Maybe you grip the steering wheel a little tighter.  Would this not be a normal response to this situation? Nothing is more normal.

Again, it is critical for us to remember that it is normal for a person to experience some level of anxiety, stress and even fear of the unknown, especially right now.  However, sustained uncertainty without adequately dealing with emotions in a healthy way can lead a person experiencing a deep sense of hopelessness and/or helplessness. These emotions need to be handled and managed in an appropriate manner, so they do not become debilitating over time.

Genesis Institute is uniquely situated to help in this situation. We have highly qualified and experienced counselors on staff that employ a clinically based and biblically informed approach to mental health counseling.

 

Wil Wilhelm

Executive Director