The Case for Uncertainty

I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives. … In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar.”

― Richard P. Feynman, theoretical physicist

Humanly, it is tough for us to sit patiently with uncertainty. We would rather not hang out in the company of not knowing so we are prone to adopt a decided conclusion even before all the possible cards have been revealed. This tendency to jump prematurely leads to all manner of error. Not just in what gets left out of consideration but the bias in what is allowed in.

Great sages of all time, echo the notion that we do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. The conclusions we draw on what something is or means is not a matter of objective fact but follows along the fault lines of our world view, our beliefs and expectations. Quantum science bears out this disquieting truth with its premise that there is no such thing as objective reality that exists independent from perception. Taken together we are left with the inescapable paradox that nothing is for certain except uncertainty and the role we play in what we observe and conclude.

Our surface mind tells us that we see the world as it is, and the quality of our experience is dependent on the quality of our circumstances. You may recognize this perspective. It's the victim mentality, the world determines my experience. Yet wisdom teaches us that we are not victims of the world we see, we are victims of the way we see the world. Shakespeare recognized it too when he said, Nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Jesus said, Do not judge by appearances but judge by righteous judgment.

You and I have a whole committee (of thoughts) in our heads who willingly and forcefully chime in with a host of preprogrammed opinions about what any particular situation says about us, or other people, or the way the world is, etc. None of these opinions are based on Truth, all based upon past conditioning, almost always fear based perceptions that bear witness to a world of suffering, limitation, and not enough.

Like the dandelions in my yard, they all started as seeds and if allowed to remain embedded in the soil of my consciousness, will flower into full-blown neuroses, or worse. The way we can deal with these errant seed thoughts is not identify with them. It takes awareness, to recognize that I'm thinking poorly about myself, and an even deeper awareness to notice that I am not my thoughts! I have thoughts, but my true self, the I of me, the one who observes the thoughts, is not those thoughts. If I do not attach my sense of self to those thoughts, I remain free, I remain creative. The practice then is to resist the rush to judgment, to remain uncertain with curiosity, leaving space for possibilities heretofore unconsidered. In that space, I am able to construct my world in the best possible light. This is what Jesus referred to as righteous judgment.

What we sow, we reap. It's a law of life that will not be mocked. We can however be conscious in our planting practices this spring, sowing and nurturing only the most nourishing thoughts that reflect our God given nature. No, it won't always be easy. But the difficulty will be well worth the effort when we're enjoying the sweet fruit at harvest.

Blessings,

Larry