Why Not Knowing Is Actually a Gift

(sand shaking) (mouse clicking) (bright music) Headspace Studios. (peaceful music) Hi friends, it's Rosie here. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Friday. We live in a world that glorifies certainty. We're told that we need to have a five-year plan, know exactly where we're going and have everything mapped out. My question to you is, when was the last time your life actually went according to plan? A few years ago, I got an offer that I thought was my dream job. It was stable, secure, everything I had been working toward, and I was so sure that once I got it, I'd feel at peace, that I'd finally have that I made it moment, and then I got laid off out of nowhere. I was completely shocked. I'd built my life around this thing, this identity, and suddenly it was gone. I went through every emotion, sadness, panic, rage. Yeah, all of it. I wanna say that rage was probably the majority of my default state. And then as if it couldn't get any worse, this feeling hit me from out of nowhere. This instant dread, I had no idea what to do next, and that feeling, that uncertainty, it was crushing. We put so much pressure on ourselves to always have a plan. But what if I told you that not knowing is actually a good thing? Studies show that people who embrace uncertainty, who take risks, try new things and stay open to change, are actually happier in the long run. A study from Columbia University found that people who step outside of their comfort zones and explore the unknown tend to experience greater life satisfaction and resilience. Why? Because instead of clinging to the illusion of control, they allow life to unfold in ways they never could have planned. But what if I'm in this place right now and I can't see my way out? Hear me out. For weeks after I lost my job, I was stuck in panic mode, and maybe you are too. I kept thinking, I need to figure this out right now. But no matter how much I obsessed over it, I couldn't force an answer to appear. Every day felt like a battle between trusting the process and freaking out because well, bills. Then one day in the middle of spiraling, I had this thought, what if I just let go for a second? What if instead of trying to solve everything, I just sat in the unknown? And then another thought immediately followed, how long will I sit in the unknown before I have to pay my rent? Because let's be real. Surrender is all well and good, but landlords don't accept inner peace as a form of payment. So I made a deal with myself. I wouldn't force a plan. I wouldn't chase certainty. Instead, I just focus on the next right thing. And it was terrifying at first. But then slowly something shifted. Instead of frantically searching for...