07/16/2025
Imagine a situation in which you felt nervous, for example, before a presentation at work or an important sporting event. You did not know what the outcome would be, but you probably took all your courage, took a deep breath, and went through with it.
By carrying on with your goals, even when you want to give up at some point, you show that you can tolerate uncertainty. On the contrary, when you do not have a high tolerance for uncertainty, you might resort to avoidance behaviors or use short-term coping mechanisms, like ruminating, to lower your anxious feelings. Even though not tolerating uncertainty might lead to temporary relief, it can also negatively affect your relationships or your general social interactions.
The difference between low and high uncertainty tolerance does not lie in what you experience before choosing how to continue. Both come with fear or anxious feelings; the important distinction is that when you have a high tolerance for uncertainty, you take that fear by the hand and go through with it. You hardly ever know the outcome of events with certainty. So, you can either avoid the outcome or be bold and see what will happen. This can consequently lead to more fulfilling relationships, experiencing spontaneous and fun events, showing up with confidence, personal growth, and adapting to new surroundings (Ferguson, 2022).
