An Unexpected Way to…handle uncertainty
Life is unpredictable. No matter how carefully we plan, unexpected changes - career shifts, relationship turns, financial setbacks - can knock us off course. Some people navigate these changes effortlessly, adjusting their sails as the winds shift. Others resist, trying to force life into a rigid structure, only to find themselves stressed, frustrated, and stuck.
Your Primal Drivers - the three emotional motivators shaping your life - determine how you react to uncertainty. Some people naturally embrace the shifting tides, while others struggle when the course is unclear. The key to embracing uncertainty isn’t forcing yourself to be different - it’s understanding your natural Drivers and learning to work with them.
CAN YOU RIDE THE WAVES OF CHANGE?
People with Exploration, Freedom, or Curiosity as dominant Primal Drivers see uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat. For them, unpredictability is not a storm to be feared but the wind that carries them forward. They are like sailors who read the winds, adjust their sails, and move with the currents, trusting that the best route will reveal itself.
When life throws an unexpected change, they pivot instead of panic, making small adjustments without losing sight of their destination. Their ability to embrace uncertainty allows them to spot new opportunities, make decisions with confidence, and enjoy the journey instead of fearing the unknown.
“Those who embrace the changing winds reach new horizons.”
If you find yourself resisting change, you’re not alone. People whose dominant Drivers are Stability, Order, or Control crave predictability. They feel safest when life follows a clear and structured route. When the wind shifts unexpectedly, they tense up, resist, and try to force their original course, even if it’s no longer the best option.
This rigid approach can be exhausting. Instead of flowing with the changes, they fight against them - burning energy, missing opportunities, and feeling constant frustration. When life’s uncertainty becomes overwhelming, they may experience anxiety, indecision, or a fear of making the wrong move, causing them to stay stuck rather than adjust their course.
If you’re someone who struggles with handling uncertainty, here’s an unexpected way to embrace change…
OCEAN SAILING STRATEGY
Every winter, a fleet of sailing boats cross the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean. They have a destination in mind, but the winds and currents dictate the route. No sailor follows a perfectly straight line. The ocean doesn’t care about their ideal plan - it moves as it will.
A skilled sailor adjusts their sails, working with nature’s forces rather than against them. At the end of the journey their route often makes a zig-zagging pattern - but the important thing is that they safely arrive at their destination.
But a rigid sailor, determined to stick to their original course no matter what, fights the wind, wastes energy, and risks breaking their boat, placing it in an unwinnable battle against the wind and waver. No matter how much they want to stick a straight line to their destination, nature never allows for this. You either bend or you break.
Life works the same way. You cannot force the world to fit your plan - but you can read the conditions, make adjustments, and let the wind carry you forward in ways you never expected.
Charles Darwin : Evolving Naturally
Charles Darwin is a prime example of someone who embraced uncertainty. When he set out on the HMS Beagle to sail around the world, he had no idea his observations would lead to the theory of evolution. Instead of clinging to fixed ideas, he let the evidence shape his conclusions, trusting that discovery comes from adapting to new information.
• He studied the Galápagos finches and realised their differences were shaped by environmental shifts.
• Instead of forcing observations to fit existing beliefs, he let nature tell its own story.
• By adapting to the unexpected, he reshaped human understanding of biology forever.
If you want to integrate this mindset into your everyday life, here’s a 3-step daily action you can try now…
STEP 1
Set your Destination
Each morning, identify your core goal - your Caribbean destination. It’s not about knowing every step; it’s about having a direction to move towards. Studies show that setting a clear intention increases motivation and reduces anxiety, helping you feel more grounded even when circumstances shift.
STEP 2
Adjust your Sails
At midday, check in with yourself: What unexpected winds have appeared today? Instead of resisting them, ask, “How can I work with this shift rather than against it?” Research on cognitive flexibility shows that those who can shift their perspective experience less stress and are more effective problem-solvers.
STEP 3
Trust the Winds
At the end of the day, reflect on how uncertainty guided you. Did a setback lead to a new insight? Did something unexpected turn out to be an opportunity? By reinforcing this mindset, you train your brain to associate uncertainty with possibility rather than fear, rewiring your response over time.
NEED HELP? BOOK A PRIMAL NATURE COACHING SESSION
Embracing uncertainty is easier for some than others. If your Primal Drivers lean toward Stability or Order, you may need strategies to adapt without losing your sense of control. If your Drivers lean toward Exploration or Freedom, you may need help using uncertainty productively rather than drifting aimlessly.
Our Primal Nature coaching programme uses innovative personality profiling to identify your unique emotional motivators, providing tailored strategies that turn your natural strengths into tools for resilience.