Living with Uncertainty Part 2

August 26, 2026

I have a dear physician friend who often says, “Worry does no good.” Whenever I stop to consider his words, I realize he is right.

Worry gives us the illusion that we are accomplishing something. It convinces us that if we think long enough, examine every angle, and anticipate every possible outcome, we may somehow solve the uncertainty before us. Worry, if left to its own devices, eventually terrorizes us. But uncertainty cannot be solved by worry.

When we worry, the ego sends us down one rabbit hole after another. It imagines the worst outcome, hopes for the best one, and rehearses every possibility in between. We ruminate over what may happen, what could go wrong, and how we might respond if the other shoe finally drops. All this mental activity can feel productive. Worry gives us a false sense of control. It gives the illusion that we are preparing ourselves, protecting ourselves, and making certain that we will not be caught off guard. But worry does not protect us. More often, it exhausts us.

It heightens our fear, overstimulates the nervous system, and robs us of the peace available in the present moment. Worry asks us to suffer today over something that may—or may not—happen tomorrow. Uncertainty exists because we do not yet know enough. We do not have the answer, the diagnosis, the decision, the plan, the verdict, or the assurance that would allow us to relax. Once we know the outcome, uncertainty disappears. Until then, we wait. And waiting may be one of the most difficult spiritual practices of all. Jesus spoke to this human phenomenon when he said, “The morrow shall take thought of the things of itself.” (Matthew 6:34)

We continue with our ordinary activities as best we can. We eat breakfast, answer messages, go to work, care for those we love, and attend to the duties of the day. Yet beneath these normal activities, the unanswered question remains: How do I make it through the uncertainty I am going through right now? To live peacefully in uncertainty requires faith: faith in ourselves, faith that we are loved, faith that we will not be abandoned, and faith in a Higher Power whose presence does not depend upon our knowing what comes next.

As an Ego Type Six, I know something about worry. My level of concern can quickly go off the charts. When something important appears to be in jeopardy, my ego begins questioning everything and trusting almost nothing. Doubt gathers momentum, anxiety rises, and worry becomes a runaway train.

Students of the Enneagram eventually discover that fear is not confined to Type Six. Every ego type is organized, in some way, around fear—the fear of loss, rejection, failure, conflict, emptiness, powerlessness, or uncertainty. Fear may wear different clothing, but it visits every human heart.

I too often forget that I am not my ego. But when I become aware that something that is not the real me is running the show, I have a chance to do something about it. Just think of it: Something that is not our core identity is instilling fear in us.

Thankfully, we are not the endless chatter in our minds. We are not the frightening story the ego constructs. We are not the confusion, doubt, and discomfort that pass through us. If we are not the ego and its thoughts, then who are we? And is our true self as frightened as the ego would have us believe?

Beneath the fearful personality is another nature—one that is grounded, spacious, and even-keeled. For me, it is a place of relaxed peace, clear inner light, and trust in the abundant support of life. This deeper nature is our essence. It is the life of the soul. The soul does not require certainty to remain present. It does not need to know the ending before it can live today. The soul can wait without abandoning itself. It can grieve without surrendering hope. It can acknowledge danger without becoming consumed by fear. The soul has better things to do than worry. It listens. It loves. It receives the present moment. It recognizes beauty. It reaches toward others. It rests in the mysterious assurance that even when the path ahead is hidden, we do not walk it alone. As a saying commonly attributed to Corrie ten Boom reminds us, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” 

For me, the ego is the engine of worry, and my soul is the fountain of strength and faith. In the spiritual process of amalgamation, our ego relinquishes its power to terrorize us and cooperates with the soul, to love us through all things. 

Spiritual Practice

When worry invades your mind, do not argue with it or condemn yourself for feeling afraid. Take a slow breath, place your attention in your heart, and gently say: “I am loved, and I am lovable.” “I am a soul, not an ego.” “I do not have to know what comes next to be present now.”

Inquiry

What is the greatest uncertainty in your life at this moment? Is it being carried primarily by your ego, by your soul, or by both? And what might change if, just for today, you allowed your soul to carry what your worry cannot?

Prayer

Dear God,

When my mind drifts to worry, I ask for self-compassion to quickly affirm that with You, and with my dear community of friends, I can face whatever life brings.

Amen