In times of uncertainty, faith and trust are valuable resources to draw from. In fact, it is in those exact times when we feel the need for faith and trust more strongly. But sometimes we don’t feel strong in faith and trust and we rather replace them with the feeling of certainty.
The nature of faith and trust stems from something larger than ourselves. Certainty on the other hand comes from the mind or ego.
Suppose we’re not feeling well and this creates uncertainty for us. We can either be scared that we may not be able to work, and consequently lose our livelihood. Or we may fear losing our lives. Thoughts arise like “what’s wrong with me?” or “what is IT?” Rather than having faith or trusting our bodies we seek answers from persons of authority. We’re look for certainty.
And strangely even if we’re told that it’s something serious, we may find relief. Having the name of the disease or condition can give us a sense of certainty.
When we turn to certainty, we automatically define the parameters of our experience. And by defining the parameters, we limit the amount of energy that is available to us in that moment. I would even go as far to say that certainty solidifies a particular reality.
Reality is what you make it – Literally
There’s a famous experiment in quantum mechanics called the Double Slit experiment. You can read more detail about it here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05892-6. It basically proves that how we observe something affects how we experience it. This implies that the level of energy that we observe with determines our reality. If we observe from a low energy state, we’ll get one outcome. If we observe from a higher energy state, we’ll get a different outcome. This principle applies to ourselves, our relationships and how we see the world in general
So if we define the parameters in a lower energy state, we’ll get a low energy outcome. If you’re told x,y and z and you have chosen to be certain, then most likely that will be your experience of reality.
When you come in for Neuro-Structural care, we meet you where you’re at AND our approach is to observe with higher energy to help create a higher energy outcome for you. We choose not to create certainty because we don’t want to limit your potential. We know that your potential exceeds maximal medical improvement. This is why when you ask us questions seeking certainty, we may not always answer them the way you’d like. We simply don’t want to enable the authoritarian doctor/powerless patient dynamic.
Uncertainty can be a friend
I am convinced that inner peace and even enlightenment come when we accept that uncertainty is as ubiquitous and important for life as oxygen.
It is through the tunnel of uncertainty that we emerge to truly feel alive and whole. It’s what makes life worth living.
This effect of certainty creeps into various levels of our lives. A good example is the social media environment where certainty has become a way to further one form of reality to the detriment of others. How can a fact checker working for Facebook know all the facts that are true and which ones are false? Maybe fact checkers should run for public office. This way as politicians they wouldn’t have to pretend to have all the answers, they would know them already:)
If there was such a thing as absolute truth, we should do away with all car companies except one (whichever one is the best) and then we could do away with the endless amount of car commercials. I think I’m onto something here:). Who decides which car company makes the best car?
Seeking certainty whether within an individual or society has the same effect: Less humility and compassion, and more righteousness and disconnection. To ignore relative truth is to deny our humanity and the foundations of democracy. Favouring absolute truth and certainty lends itself psychologically to totalitarianism.
When we look to others for certainty, we give our power away. Instead we can look to ourselves, we can dig deep, feel our faith and trust and move through the chaotic vortex of uncertainty to the other side where resolution awaits.
“Someone with a fervent belief or idea usually does not have a good epistemic basis for the level of certainty they hold.” ~ Daniel Schmachtenberger