Certain Uncertainties

There is nothing certain but the uncertain ~Proverb

As a project practitioner with many years of experience, I discovered that the best of project plans are never free of risks or issues. No matter how well you plan or execute the plan, there will be few issues or risks that may be outside the control of your project plan. The same applies to life and the journey. I call these necessities in life – ‘Certain Uncertainties’, they show up no matter where you are in life, what you are doing or want to achieve, I can guarantee that you will be faced with few, if not many certain uncertainties.

 

Making a transition, starting a new business or relationship, moving into new, unfamiliar terrain are common recipes for uncertainties, imperfection, doubt and inadequacy. A BBC journalist once made a comment, “History is not always achieved through perfection. Not everyone who becomes the first, the best or the greatest does so with a faultless performance. But then it is the history makers who tell us this and they are the sort who are never satisfied.”

 

The earlier you settle this within yourself, the better – life’s journey will never be a perfect or a smooth ride. The road will have different potholes, speed bumps, road works that will cause delays. No matter how hard you prepare, expect the unexpected, the certain uncertainties. It will save you from grief, frustration and pain.  Life generally will not demand more than what it gives.

 

It is important to realise that the uncertainty is not necessarily designed to stop you from advancing on your journey even though many may have stopped on their journey because of them. It is rather designed to bring the best out of you; test your resolution, confidence, determination and of course, reveal what you are made of. Everyone celebrated in their chosen industry today overcame what normally stops people from making the leap into the world of significance. 

 

Paul Jeffers once observed, “Setbacks are given to ordinary people to make them extraordinary” The story of Hyvon Ngetich, the Kenyan marathon runner comes to mind when thinking about overcoming uncertainty. She was headed for victory, led the Austin Texas marathon (that took place in February 2015) all through, but suddenly collapsed 50 metres to the finish line. Rather than accept a wheelchair which would have disqualified her from the race, she crawled her way to the finish line in third place. She was the true winner of the race and she will be remembered for her heroic performance in the face of unbelievable difficulty. I believe her story is not an exception. You too have in you the courage to overcome the uncertainties, setbacks and the difficult situation you are going through at the moment.‎

 

Tagged: CERTAIN, NEW BUSINESS, TRANSITION, UNCERTAINTY