Aims > goals: How to trust your own word in times of uncertainty.

Aims > goals: How to trust your own word in times of uncertainty.

The Greeks believed that everything originated from chaos. If anything, that uncertainty sounds like a creative principle to me. We typically associate uncertainty with negative emotions, stress, and anxiety. Naturally, our brains are always trying to protect us from it – a primal impulse to stay alive. What if I told you that the very thing we all try to avoid is one of the biggest factors that triggers neuroplasticity?

The natural response to an unclear future is rigidity. When things feel out of our control, we turn to strict systems, new routines, new Notion templates, a new productivity course/book, a new notebook. Any sort of productivity porn that will make us feel some sense of control. Unfortunately, all these new gadgets and airport books are just an illusion of control. This is how society responds to chaos and uncertainty: rigid systems.

However, there is a different approach to uncertainty - a system update that sees uncertainty as a window of opportunity. A more mindful approach to uncertainty is evaluating how you can focus on your output. This means using your energy and resources to understand which actions will move you in the right direction. Viewing chaos as a window of opportunity makes you reflect on actions you can take every day instead of obsessing over ambitious outcomes that look good on your new roadmap/to-do list. When we are so obsessed with the finish line, we completely forget about the journey. The idea is to focus on the aim, and then the journey becomes the goal.

Self-efficacy is believing in your own capacity to act in the necessary ways to reach your goals. Cultivating it is the biggest antidote to handling uncertainty in a healthy way. This skill is crucial if we want to ditch the "endless to-do list" approach and start focusing on recurring actions instead. And I love the word resource for this one because to me it speaks about something that came from the source and becomes a re-source once you use it again and again, once you start to understand what tool serves you and when. You understand that the source to fight uncertainty is not a book, a course, a template. You know that the source is within.

Elon Musk's "3-Step" First Principles Thinking: How to Think and Solve Difficult Problems Like a...

Generally, I think there are fundamental truths that underlie every problem or scenario. First Principles Thinking is basically the practice of actively questioning every assumption you think you 'know' about a given problem or scenario - and then creating new knowledge and solutions from scratch. Reasoning by analogy, on the other hand, is building knowledge and solving problems based on prior assumptions, beliefs, and widely held 'best practices' approved by the majority of people.

Elon Musk believes in the power of First Principles Thinking to solve difficult problems and achieve accelerated success. He suggests breaking down problems into their fundamental principles and creating new solutions from scratch. This process requires identifying and defining your current assumptions, thinking deeply about the problem before jumping to solutions, and being open to thinking differently.

Good ideas are always crazy until they're not. The person who says they know what they think but cannot express it usually does not know what they think. First Principles Thinking encourages us to challenge our assumptions and think differently to uncover groundbreaking solutions.

Combining the concepts of embracing uncertainty and applying First Principles Thinking, we can see that the key to trusting our own word in times of uncertainty lies in questioning our assumptions, focusing on our aims rather than rigid goals, and cultivating self-efficacy. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to help navigate uncertainty:

1. Embrace the unknown: Instead of fearing uncertainty, see it as an opportunity for growth and creativity. Allow yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and explore new possibilities. Embracing uncertainty opens the door to new perspectives and solutions.

2. Question your assumptions: Take the time to identify and define your current assumptions about a problem or situation. Challenge those assumptions and seek to understand the underlying principles. By questioning your assumptions, you can uncover new insights and opportunities.

3. Focus on recurring actions: Instead of fixating on ambitious outcomes, focus on the small actions you can take every day that align with your long-term aspirations. By consistently moving in the right direction, you build momentum and increase your self-efficacy. Remember that the journey itself is the goal.

In conclusion, trusting our own word in times of uncertainty requires a shift in mindset. Embracing uncertainty as a creative principle, applying First Principles Thinking, and cultivating self-efficacy are key elements in navigating uncertainty and achieving success. By questioning our assumptions, focusing on our aims, and taking consistent actions, we can confidently navigate through uncertain times and trust ourselves to find the right path forward.