Written by: Danielle Sunberg, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We’ve all experienced navigating the unknown, whether it’s switching your career, moving across the country, or living through the pandemic. Sometimes we choose to leap into the unknown, and sometimes the unknown is thrust upon us. When we venture into this uncharted place, it can feel as though we’ve been handed a map with the directions to where we want to go covered by a dense fog. We’d give anything to clear that fog and to know that we will arrive safely wherever it is we want to go.
This desire to safely navigate the unknown is hardwired. Our brains are giant prediction machines that perceive the unknown as a threat. During the pandemic, we did everything in our power to search for definitive answers that will allow us to relax and feel confident to take a step forward. The problem is that we can never permanently clear this fog as life will continue to throw us curve balls. Learn the three steps to transform the unknown from an enemy into your ally.
1. Acceptance
The truth is we can’t eliminate the unknown. Philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” This means that life is constantly changing, and the unknown is baked in.
When we accept that the unknown is a part of life, it shifts our relationship with it. We can see it as something natural instead of something bad or wrong. When we see it as natural we can even embrace it, knowing that we are about to enter a growth space.
2. Slow down
When we are in the fog of the unknown, it means our minds have pulled us out into the future thinking about what we cannot yet know. Coming back to this moment offers us a great gift: it is known.
Ask yourself, “What is happening right now?” What are you doing, thinking, and feeling? The great thing about these questions is that they have answers. The answers tell us what is needed of us in each moment and allows us to feel calm and clear. We are reminded that we know how to navigate each moment, and that is actually all that we can do. Slowing down gives us our clear place from which to start our navigation into the unknown. Watch my TEDx to learn how to powerfully use these questions.
3. Lead from within
We tend to believe that the answers to all of our unknowns are waiting for us somewhere outside ourselves, and so we ask outward facing questions. During the pandemic many of us wondered, “When will I ever take another vacation?”
Answers live within the framework of their questions, meaning that when the unknown is built into the question it will also be built into the answer. We get answers in the form of possibilities, hypotheticals, and statistics, like “Maybe I can take a vacation next year,” or “It depends on who wins the election.” What we don’t get is a clear definitive answer that clears the fog and gives us directions forward.
When we lead from within, we shift the framework of our questions by pointing inward, towards what we already know. The truth is we have the answers–and directions–that we need to navigate the unknown. One question to ask here is, “What do I know?” Be patient with the answer to bubble up, as it will reveal your deep well of wisdom.
Remember, mastering how to navigate the unknown is not always easy, but it is a path of profound growth. By embracing these three steps, you will feel more confident to walk through life no matter what it brings. If you would benefit from support along your journey as an authentic leader, please reach out to me or take a look at this free reflection guide I’ve created to help you move forward.
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Danielle Sunberg, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Danielle Sunberg is a former attorney turned TEDx and authentic leadership speaker, author, and coach. Her new book, “Atlas of Being: From Briefcase to Backpack, One Former Lawyer's Exploration of the Human Way,” is an Amazon 1 New Release. After successfully defending her client at trial against a $6 billion judgment, Danielle was diagnosed with depression. She left her firm to travel six continents, exploring the farthest corners of the world and the innermost reaches of the human soul to understand what it meant to live a truly fulfilling life. Danielle bridges her expertise in the corporate world with self-development to guide leaders to transform themselves, their business, and the world.
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