How does one really “trust the process” amid uncertainty? Why does building up your resilience matter when it comes to looking for solutions? Who is in the driver’s seat of your life, and if it’s not your conscientious adult self, how can you get back into it?
In this podcast episode in the Regulate to Liberate Series, Jennifer Froemel discusses fear of uncertainty.
In This Podcast:
- Redefine uncertainty as possibility
- How to truly “trust the process”
- Ask yourself: “Who’s driving the bus?”
Redefine uncertainty as possibility
I would like to challenge you to think about the fact that nothingness leaves lots of possibilities … The unknown is something we could label as nothingness, a blank space where possibilities are endless.
Jennifer Froemel
Our brains are wired to look for what we know, and to steer clear of what we don’t.
Our human minds are scared of the unknown, and try to keep us safe from danger.
While this is a noble pursuit, the trouble comes in when our brains try to keep us safe to the extent that we lose out on living life, new opportunities, and developing who we are beyond who we have always been.
How to truly “trust the process”
Everyone tells you to “trust the process” – but what does that even mean? How can you trust what you don’t know and feel afraid of?
Jennifer explains that to trust the process is not to feel any fear, but rather not let the fear derail you from making progress.
What on God’s green earth does “Trust the process” mean? It simply means, “Don’t listen to the discomfort. Know that the process is created in order for things to happen as they’re supposed to.
Jennifer Froemel
So it is true: we do not know the full answer, and we don’t know what the solution is.
All that we know is the problem that exists, and that there is a wide expanse of possibilities as to where the solution comes from – and while you look for the solution, you may feel discomfort.
The point is to build up your resilience so that you can withstand the discomfort in the pursuit of the solution.
Ask yourself: “Who’s driving the bus?”
When you feel like a runaway train, or a bus driving recklessly through life, you can ask yourself:
- “Who is driving this bus? Is it me, or is it my fear? My fearful, younger self? My anxiety?”
Once you begin to build up that awareness and know when you are in the seat versus when your anxiety or fear is, you can call back your power and remember that you can take up the reins, or conscientiously get back in the seat.
What benefits does it bring for you to not be in the driver’s seat?
What has this uncertainty done for you? What has this uncertainty opened for you? And what it opened, at least for [my] client … It opened up the possibility that … “If my younger self is the one driving the bus so to speak, I can tell her that I can take over.”
Jennifer Froemel
So, your tip for the week: don’t allow your brain to hijack you! When you notice that your mind is racing, notice the uncertainty, recognize that you will be okay, and get back into the driver’s seat yourself.
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ABOUT THE FEAR OF CHANGE PODCAST
Change can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. The Fear of Change podcast is all about helping you embrace change and live a more fulfilling life. Hosted by Jennifer Froemel, LCPC, a therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, we cover topics like mental wellness, holistic health, and improving relationships.
Jennifer’s down-to-earth approach makes it easy to understand why we fear change and how to move past those fears. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, or just feeling stuck, there’s something here for you.
