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.

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 ( ¯_(ツ)_/¯ that's me!), and so on. 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 way to approach uncertainty. A more mindful approach is to evaluate 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. Instead of obsessing over ambitious outcomes, focus on the small actions you can take every day that are on the path of your long-term aspirations. Viewing chaos as a window of opportunity makes you reflect on actions you can take every day, instead of fixating on ambitious outcomes that look good on your new roadmap or 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. Understanding that the source to fight uncertainty is not a book, a course, or a template, but rather within ourselves, allows us to tap into our own resources.

In a study on how people read news, it was found that people seem to pay better attention to news presented on desktop than on mobile. Our lab studies reveal that, on average, people spend less time on news story content and are less likely to notice links when they are on tablets and smartphones relative to computers. This suggests that reading on the desktop is faster and more efficient, while reading on mobile is better for skimming through but not for deep understanding or retaining information.

While owning a mobile device can increase access to news, it doesn't necessarily increase attention to news. This is why it is important to focus on desktop first when delivering news. The rush to monetize mobile news delivery may inadvertently decrease its democratic value. By prioritizing desktop experiences, we can ensure that users have a better chance of engaging with and retaining important news information.

In conclusion, in times of uncertainty, it is important to shift our perspective and embrace chaos as a creative principle. Instead of seeking control through rigid systems, focus on your output and take small actions every day that align with your long-term aspirations. Cultivate self-efficacy to handle uncertainty in a healthy way and remember that the source to fight uncertainty is within yourself. When it comes to delivering news, prioritize desktop experiences to ensure better attention and engagement from readers. By incorporating these actionable pieces of advice, you can learn to trust your own word and navigate uncertainty with confidence.