Uncertainty Or An Opportunity In Disguise?

Everyone is talking about COVID-19 and dealing with uncertainty. Uncertainty often causes us to worry about what lies ahead in the future. It can make us anxious, confused, afraid of trying or failing. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely brought with it an abundance of uncertainty. There has been a wide range of ripple effects – students wonder if their exams will be affected, graduates stress about whether job opportunities still exist, and businesses are just trying to survive – but what if this uncertainty is an opportunity in disguise? What if this uncertainty is a positive thing?

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind not with it” – Henry Ford.

View from an airplane window at the wings and flying over a scenic landscape of green hills and rivers

Nine years ago, I experienced something that prepared me for this pandemic. I had a head injury, lost three of my five senses, and then was made redundant from my career of over thirteen years in the fashion industry. I was forced to relook at everything in my career. I really wanted to get out of the industry because it was very difficult for me to go back. But I challenged myself to do something new.

Imagine yourself doing a bungee jump. If you do not want to stand still in that jumping platform, you have to jump, take a leap of faith. Trust your capabilities. Trust the expert who is guiding you through your jump. Trust the equipment, your jump gear. Once you jump, first it is exhilarating and then you find your calm. Let me tell you how I found my calm and my happy place.

I chose to take a big step and go back to studying after my redundancy. It was scary as I had been a college dropout and in fact failed thrice in college! In my mind I knew I was not a great student. That is why I wanted to prove myself wrong. Change my perception of myself.

I wanted to study abroad and decided to move to New Zealand. For a new experience, for a bigger challenge. Because, in my mind I was 100% ready to jump and believed that it will be for good

While studying myself, I started teaching other students, my classmates, for the best way to learn is by teaching others. Very soon I realised how much I was enjoying it. I was not wrong about myself. By giving in my best, I won three scholarship. I was also awarded with an invitation to the Golden Key International Honor Society. It was an absolute honour to be recognized by this prestigious award.

Presenting at the Golden Key APAC conference also led to me being nominated and invited to present at TEDx Uni SA in Adelaide

I got the courage to bring EduventureNZ to life, based on the resilience and determination that I could show while making the move to New Zealand and finding success.

The uncertainty I faced gave me the opportunity to relook at my career and redirect towards something I would never imagine doing, if I were still in my old job. I found my new calling in teaching, training, and motivating others. I realised this is something that comes naturally to me and I what I truly enjoy.

When there is uncertainty, you get to reflect, you get to look at what you do and what you are good at. Uncertainty is an opportunity to challenge your brain to think in a different way – and when you succeed, it will motivate you to do more.

Embracing uncertainty has helped me to be where I am today. The learnings and experiences have shaped me to find balance amidst chaos by focusing on my strengths and the willingness to explore and create new opportunities.

It is true that now we are facing unprecedented challenges, but we must also look at all the positive things. It is difficult to be optimistic when we are in stress, but stress is a good motivator to change. When we feel pressure, and do something to fix it, we grow.

So many things have happened because people have challenged themselves to think differently, and they have had the opportunity to reflect back on what they are good at and what the world might need. We have seen an increased number of new businesses that have been created by people who would have never dared to try before. Students who were sick of looking for a job and decided to go out on their own, others who finally took the leap to turn a passion or idea into a business or saw a gap to fill. People have found success and are motivated to do more.

COVID-19 also gave us the opportunity to spend more time with family and to do other hobbies we would not usually have found time for. So, if we really think about it, COVID-19 has been an opportunity in disguise and there have been some positive experiences to come out of it.

Training our minds to use words of encouragement act as a powerful tool to transcend our limitations and empower ourselves to achieve what we desire.

Ask yourself, how can you use this uncertainty as an opportunity to create a positive experience for yourself? What areas of your life can you reflect on and use this opportunity to take a jump?