Uncertainty

Certainty is a drug in this day and age. People expect it of themselves and others, be it in the workplace, homelife, or spiritually and emotionally.

And yet, one of the most popular sayings and bumper stickers I see is, “Not all who wander are lost”.

What?

Certainty makes each sleepless night, all the pain, all the loneliness, all the indescribable emotions worth it because in the straining of life there’s still certainty waiting at the door.

It’s almost as though uncertainty is some sort of phase that we all go through. Most people that I know try to play it off like they don’t deal with uncertainty, which is bull. Life is never sure.

Even the most confident people deal with doubt and fear. It’s become a trend to say that you’re not uncertain, that you have absolute certainty that your dreams, plans, or thought processes will come to fruition. I’m really not sure why, because in my opinion to have that kind of arrogance in life would absolutely lead to my face planting on concrete.

Confidence and arrogance are two very different things, but the line has become fuzzy in recent years. There’s so many political candidates and celebrities blurring the line. Most celebrities, I think, don’t understand how much influence they have and in their lives they have to ride the line between confidence and arrogance with paparazzi.

Arrogance is confidence without kindness, it doesn’t care who it runs over, maims, or disparages as long as the person it inhabits is made to look strong and powerful. Confidence is strong and kind. Confidence doesn’t demand one perspective or path to where it has gotten.

But confidence is quickly disappearing from society. It’s dangerous to be authentic. It’s so much easier to loudly bleat your strength, certainty, and unwavering ability to be stronger than doubt, fear, or personal circumstances.

Life is full of uncertainty, and being certain of that is certainly my only certainty.

You don’t have to be certain.

Nobody is certain.

People act certain because it’s too scary to admit that they aren’t.

You don’t have to be like everyone else.