Finding Strength in Uncertainty: 3 Lessons In Resilience

Sometimes life makes you question everything— your path, choices, and whether ramen should be considered a food group. This could be in retrospect of the many hurdles you climbed to achieve significant growth, while other times it could be when you feel the lowest, swamped with everything life throws at you, and wondering how on earth to find a way out.

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, doesn’t it? One moment, you are confidently planning your next move; the next, it feels like the universe handed you a “plot twist” card and whispered, “Good luck!”. Like you’re playing an intense dodge-ball game, and life is that super jacked athletic kid with all the dodge-ball skills whose balls never miss. Yes, I feel like life’s punching bag sometimes, so if you’ve been or are still here, you’re not alone—I promise.

Embracing the Chaos

Uncertainty has a way of testing you, and by testing, I mean the kind that feels like an unannounced pop quiz on a subject you didn’t study for. Some days, I just want to curl up in a ball and exist in the silence, but I know doing that will not improve my situation. So, I must pick myself back up, whether that means screaming into my pillow, crying, or saying affirmations aloud, I have to do something, anything, it’s all I can do to keep going, especially when rejection emails pile up like junk mail. If this sounds familiar, I see you, and although our situations might vary, I understand. And yes, I’m giving you a virtual hug through the screen to help you in your quest of finding strength in uncertainty.

But here’s the thing: I realized something interesting—uncertainty isn’t just life’s way of keeping things spicy, it’s also a boot camp for resilience and growth. Yeah, my life has felt like an active battleground for the past couple of years, but I can say that I am five times better than I was when I held my first sword. It’s like standing on shaky ground, unsure when the next eruption might hit, but knowing you will stand taller after each one. So, as a fellow active volcano, I can tell you that even when it feels like you’re stuck in the waiting room of life, lessons are unfolding in the background. You might not see them yet, but trust me—they are there.

Lessons in Finding Strength in Uncertainty

The past year has been like a crash course in patience and self-discovery. Here are some lessons that have unfolded for me (and hopefully, they will resonate with you, too).

Lesson 1: Lean Into the Uncomfortable

I used to avoid discomfort like the plague. Whether it was tough conversations, scary risks, or unfamiliar paths, I would bolt the other way. But the truth is, growth lives outside your comfort zone. It’s in those moments when you are uncertain, vulnerable, or downright terrified that you start to stretch and evolve.

Take it from me, a recovering over-thinker: It’s okay not to have all the answers, and feeling scared is absolutely OK. I have had to pick up technical skills that were always too daunting, especially ones with a maths equation attached. But here I am, confidently adding those skills to my resume, and although it’s foundational knowledge, a win is a win. The important thing is to show up anyway—even if your knees are knocking and you have no idea what comes next.

Lesson 2: Celebrate the Small Wins

When navigating uncertain times, it’s easy to focus on everything that’s not going right. I was deep in this just last week, but I have learned that celebrating small victories changes how you perceive situations. Some days, my “big win” was appreciating how I spoke during an interview, even though I did not get a response or my application was turned down. Other days, it was taking quick LinkedIn lessons and surviving the temptation of scrolling through various manhwas.

But here’s the important thing: Progress doesn’t have to be flashy or huge to count. Many believe real progress is when people see and acknowledge your huge win, but progress can also be small. Celebrating your little wins shows appreciation for the journey and pays homage to your hard work, resilience, sleepless nights, and tear-soaked pillows. Every tiny step forward is proof that you are moving in the right direction—even if it feels slow.

Lesson 3: You Are Stronger Than You Think

This one hit me like a ton of bricks. I have had days when I felt like throwing in the towel—days when the weight of uncertainty felt too heavy to bear. But somehow, I kept going. Faith has been my cornerstone, giving me the strength to persevere through moments of weakness and doubt. For me, it’s God’s grace—no matter your source of hope, hold onto it tightly.

Friend, you are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Every time you rise after falling, you add another brick to your foundation of resilience. So, don’t forget to give yourself credit for that.

Finding Joy and Turning the Page

Let’s be clear: uncertainty isn’t all doom and gloom. There’s a strange kind of magic in the in-between moments. Like that time I thought deep-cleaning the fridge might spark a life epiphany (spoiler: no profound revelations, just expired food). Or the time I decided to “embrace productivity” and ended up accidentally power-napping instead.

Here’s what I know for sure: Life’s uncertainty may feel like a storm, but every storm eventually passes. And when it does, you’ll look back and see how far you have come and realize that the very things you thought would break you were quietly shaping you into a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. So, take a deep breath. Lean into the journey. Celebrate the small wins. And don’t be afraid to laugh at the absurdities along the way.

Have your lessons from life’s storms? I would love to hear them, so share your story in the comments below!

And remember, when life gets messy, just grab a pen—you can turn anything into a story (or cautionary tale). See you next time!

–Stay Jiggy, Urwordsormine