The Randomness In Life, The Need To Accept The Unexpected

Our lives are governed by many variables, one of which is randomness. So, despite the fact that we most often assume that we have tight control over our realities, we are captives of chance. However, it is difficult to accept the unexpected and take on this small percentage of chaos that lives among us.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr, writer of science fiction novels, said that in a world where order and predictability do not govern, we are obliged to know how to deal with chaos, but without becoming chaotic. You could say that this feeling that fate is capricious and puts us in situations we never anticipated is not something we often experience.

We can live in complete tranquility for years, satisfied with a gift where everything is in its place. We go in and out of the house, go to work, interact, share time with family and friends, and everything is fine. Until, suddenly, there is an inflection, a change of destiny and a ‘face to face’ with the unusual and the unexpected.

These moments require abilities, skills, and mental approaches that we haven’t used before. There are those who, as impressive as it may seem, respond calmly. It is as if, in your genetic code or in some hidden corner of your brain universe, there is an extraordinary code ready to be activated in the face of adversity. And, in fact, they respond in the best way.

The difficulty of accepting the unexpected

There are days when the sun is brighter and the sky is clear in all its immensity. However, nothing stops the appearance of darkness and ominous clouds in a matter of seconds, bringing the noise of the worst storms. In these circumstances, it’s no use complaining: you need to protect yourself.

There are times when stability governs everything. Every item on the agenda is fulfilled, every project, commitment, trip, everything is assumed with normality and satisfaction. However, an unforeseen event may arise.

Furthermore, the most unique aspect about unforeseen events is that they never come alone, they usually bring more change and uncertainty. In the midst of these contexts, it is no use complaining, lamenting or being quiet. You have to respond, you have to act.

However, it is never easy to act correctly for many and varied reasons. Let’s analyze them.

Our brain doesn’t like randomness

How to accept the unexpected if our brain does not tolerate randomness? This exceptional organ has an almost obsessive tendency to look for patterns and learn from experience to help us respond better to everyday situations. He likes to have everything under control, because any unforeseen, any unknown stimulus, not previously processed or unexperienced, activates an alarm system that is interpreted as a threat.

Now, does the fact that it is programmed in this way mean that we are incapable of reacting to chance or chaos? The answer is no; people can effectively face this kind of circumstance. And, surprising as it sounds, we’ve done pretty well over time.

We are creative beings, with great psychological resources to innovate, react and overcome adversity. This is how we manage to survive and how we will continue to move forward despite the changes, despite the inevitable fear that unforeseen events generate…

Accept the unexpected, remembering your purposes

Science often shows us that life is an accidental by-product in a random universe. Let us also remember what the well-known physicist Wermer Heisenberg said: “What we observe in matter are not things (or particles), but probability waves.”

This idea helped him formulate his famous theory of the uncertainty principle, which held that it is impossible to measure or predict the position and motion of a particle. Of course we can make guesses, but even in the world of quantum physics, there is a small percentage of chaos. Furthermore, something Heinseberg pointed out is that, in an uncertain world, we must be prepared for the unexpected.

The fact that the outlook is this is neither good nor bad. It’s a self-evident reality. There are those who benefit from it, who have no problem accepting the unexpected and moving forward in a courageous and creative way. Others, however, experience all of this as paralyzing. When we spend many years immersed in apparent tranquility, the mind feels able to predict what will happen until, suddenly, the black swan mentioned by Nassim Nicholas Taleb appears.

Now, how to face the inevitable variable of uncertainty in our daily lives? Let’s look at some dimensions to ponder.

The exercise of accepting and facing the unexpected

It is necessary to accept and face the unforeseen, taking into account the following aspects:

• The first step in accepting the unexpected is remembering what your purposes are. No matter how chaotic your current reality, if you have clear priorities, you will find the strength and capacity to act.
• The second step is to get everything you “really can control” under control. An example of this are your decisions, mental approaches and actions.

• Next, you need to understand that, in the midst of uncertainty, you always need to take risks. Doing so may cause concern, it is true, but innovative steps need to be taken to move forward.
• Likewise, it is important to awaken the skills we all have: curiosity, creativity, receptivity. You need to be receptive, listen, take advice, and then act on your internal compass. What we can get out of these circumstances can be very enriching.

In conclusion, the key to facing the unexpected, regardless of its dimensions, is to be brave. If we stand still, lamenting this speck of chaos in our lives, the suffering will be greater. We must be proactive, resourceful, able to rationalize fears and put our emotions and creativity in our favor.