Don’t Let Uncertainty Paralyze You

When we are threatened with unproductive uncertainty, we often get so stuck focusing on our immediate situation that we overlook the broader set of possibilities in our life. Not only does this create disquiet, but it can lead us to make rash decisions or to forego opportunities because we don’t even recognize them. Psychologist call this tendency to miss the bigger picture status quo bias, big-fish-small-pond effect, or relative deprivation. If we can remember there is a context more vast than we may initially imagine and it is filled with more possibility than we may envision in our current situation, there is a much greater likelihood for optimal outcomes that don’t run the risk of unnecessarily limiting the possibilities in our own lives.