The Myth of Being Ready to Dive In

Consider the scenario where you wish to learn swimming but have no experience. You might read extensively about swimming techniques, watch tutorials, or even visualize yourself doing it. However, none of these approaches can substitute for actual practice in the water.

Ultimately, you must enter the pool and, initially, grapple with the learning process. Interestingly, some instructors toss infants into the water, allowing their natural buoyancy to surface. Similarly, Navy recruits might be dropped into deep water without prior swimming skills.

The lesson here is clear: nothing can replicate the genuine experience. No amount of motivation can alter the reality that you must engage in the activity itself—whatever it may be—in the real world.

Once You Take the Leap, Success Usually Follows

Staying with the water theme, think about how you might hesitate to enter a chilly pool. You might dip a toe in and exclaim, “Brr, that’s cold!” Gradually, you may step in until the water reaches your waist, all while shivering.

However, what happens when you finally decide to plunge fully into the water? You acclimatize quickly. You could have saved time by just diving in from the start.

This metaphor reflects how you may approach any uncertain endeavor. Most pursuits that intimidate you will likely turn out positively once you establish a routine. The fear you anticipate often overshadows the actual experience.

Your apprehension about facing the many challenges necessary to create your desired life can lead to a slow, cautious approach—much like the person who gingerly enters the pool rather than diving in boldly.

It's crucial to realize that while I can't provide a magic solution for overcoming fear, I can assure you that when you reflect on your past worries, you'll wonder why you ever feared them.

Building Your Resilience Against Uncertainty

Learning to navigate uncertainty is akin to strengthening a muscle. To grow stronger, consistent practice is essential. If you take extended breaks, that strength can diminish rapidly.

As you begin to take small steps into the unknown, you'll accumulate energy to tackle new challenges. You may either achieve quick success or encounter rejection.

Should you experience a win, you might be tempted to celebrate without facing further uncertainty. You recognize that it worked, but the preceding anxiety may deter you from pursuing it again. Conversely, if you face rejection or failure, you may shy away from action altogether, internalizing the setback.

In either scenario, momentum is lost, which is vital for facing an uncertain future. Instead of occasionally stepping out of your comfort zone, it’s more beneficial to embrace discomfort as a consistent state for a time.

The inevitability of a “pain period” exists in any pursuit filled with uncertainty, so don’t shy away from it.

The Joy in Embracing Uncertainty

Over time, cultivating a lifestyle that prioritizes confronting uncertainty will shift your cravings away from the need for comfort. You’ll develop a thrilling appetite for taking risks.

Humans have been misled into believing that comfort is what we desire when, in truth, we yearn for adventure. Take the example of a lion in captivity: it enjoys safety and easy access to food, but lacks the instinctual drive to hunt.

Now contrast that with a wild lion, which faces unpredictability and danger but lives authentically. Despite the fear surrounding uncertainty, you may find that you disdain comfort even more, yet haven’t acted on it.

Reflect on what your life could resemble if you dared to break free from your self-imposed limitations. Yes, it’s daunting and mentally taxing—most people never truly attempt it.

Regularly question whether you’re satisfied living a life akin to those around you. Continue to probe until you arrive at a motivating answer that spurs you into action.

In "Mo Gawdat's Happiness Formula: Retrain Your Brain to Be Happy Now," learn how to shift your mindset to embrace joy and overcome negativity.

In "Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy," Mo Gawdat discusses practical strategies for creating a fulfilling life through understanding happiness.