Unlock Creativity By Embracing Uncertainty
- Brainz Magazine
- May 4, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 27, 2024
Written by: Patrick Batson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Dr. Wayne Dyer once noted that the dynamics of flight “were not discovered by contemplating the staying on the ground of things.” His point was that human flight would still be a fantasy if nobody had pondered how a wingless species could become airborne. To realize the potential for flight, someone had to be curious, courageous, and vulnerable enough to question what everyone knew to be true. They had to be willing to fail and risk looking foolish. Only by embracing uncertainty could they access the creative thinking that brought us airplanes.
Uncertainty Breeds Creativity
Creativity is the capacity to bring forth new ideas, innovative solutions, and previously unknown connections. It is inspired by the willingness to see beyond what we believe and the desire to dig below the surface of what is currently known. By definition, it germinates in uncertain environments. When we lean into that uncertainty, we open ourselves to discovering what is hidden, and that’s when creative solutions begin to reveal themselves.
We already know creativity gives rise to art, innovative ideas, and breakthrough inventions. In addition, mining previously hidden veins of creativity can bring us greater resilience, joy, and self-actualization, strengthening our sense of meaning and expanding our capacity for empathy. In short, being willing to make ourselves vulnerable and risk looking foolish can be good for us and society. It can open entirely new worlds of possibilities.
Certainty Breeds Stagnation
Unfortunately, we are experiencing a moment in time in which the appearance of certainty seems a higher priority than creative thinking to many leaders and influencers. Personal opinions are often confused with objective facts, vulnerability is equated with weakness, and failure is seen as something to avoid rather than a necessary step toward greatness. It’s easy to follow along in such an environment because it can be almost intoxicating when someone offers us a tall glass of certainty. But following along doesn’t help us reach our highest potential as individuals or societies. When we say, “I know how it is,” we exclude all other possibilities.
That’s when we stagnate. However, when we are willing to admit that there is very little we know for certain, the world of infinite possibilities opens before us.
How to Embrace Uncertainty
How can we lean into uncertainty and cultivate openness to greater possibilities? Here are some simple techniques you can practice every day:
Frequently ask yourself open-ended questions like:
What have I not considered yet?
What have I been unwilling to try?
What am I willing to give up?
What else is possible?
Keep a tally of how often you speak or think negatively about someone else’s beliefs. For example:
They don’t know what they’re talking about.
Can you believe what they said/did?
What are those idiots thinking?
The more you become aware of your reactions to alternate points of view, the more open you become to the flow of creativity.
If you watch or listen to the news, spend an hour or two with sources you intentionally try to avoid. Feel your emotions and judgments as you watch or listen, and become aware that many millions of people react the same way to the points of view you support. Then ask, “What else is possible for all of us?”
When someone challenges your beliefs, and you feel the fight or flight mechanism kicking in, take a deep breath and dare to suggest that perhaps you are both missing something even better. Then invite them to work with you to discover it. They may not accept your invitation, but you will start to release some of your limited thinking.
I’m not suggesting we give up everything we believe. But I am saying that greater possibilities emerge when we are willing to question our beliefs—especially the ones we feel most sure of. After all, wingless humanity walked through 99.99% of our known history before discovering a way to fly higher, farther, and faster than creatures designed for flight. Only a handful of people dared try to find it, but aren’t we glad they did?
Patrick Batson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Patrick assists people on their journey of awakening to higher consciousness. Drawing upon decades of study and practice of Spiritual wisdom, as well as executive-level management and modern family life, Patrick serves as a guide for bridging the physical and Spiritual worlds. He has authored two books and publishes a monthly blog of channeled content on topics common to the human experience, as observed from the perspective of the Higher Self. Through his healing practice, Patrick helps clients connect with their Higher Mind. By bringing unconscious, limiting beliefs into alignment with the Higher Mind's vision of wholeness and abundance, clients are able to amplify and accelerate positive life changes.
