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Visual reflection: photograph by Marco Antonio Cruz, from the book “Habitar La

Oscuridad”

Uncertainty is all around us, and it has never been more prevalent than today. Much of

what lies ahead in life remains unpredictable, whether it concerns a current global pandemic, the

economy, or the finances, health, and relationships. Fear of the unknown breeds a need for

reassurance, sense of control over life and guarantee of security. We want to feel safe and in

charge of our lives and well-being. Uncertainty is a natural and unavoidable element of life,

despite the fact that we may not want to accept it. There is very little that is permanent or

completely definite in our lives, and while we have some control over many aspects of our life,

we cannot control everything that happens to us. As the coronavirus pandemic showed, life may

alter in an instant and in an unpredictably unpredictable manner. Things could be going

swimmingly one day, and the next you could find yourself suddenly ill, out of work, or

struggling to put food on the table or provide for your family.

The photograph by Marco Antonio Cruz, taken from the book “Habitar La Oscuridad”

shows seemingly hesitant man standing at the bottom of a staircase and seemingly in a dilemma.

He seems hesitant about turning the blind corner and venturing into the unknown. This hesitance

could be interpreted as fear of making a certain decision or taking a certain path. Similarly, it

could be interpretation as hopeful contemplation for a promising future. Regardless of hope one

interprets it, the picture demonstrates that there are times in life when one faces challenges in

life, and their perception of an uncertain future becomes an obstacle to a fulfilling life. This

unsettling mixture of disappointment, anxiety, and questioning is strangely familiar. My father

abruptly departed our home more than a decade ago. All of our lives were twisted in an instant. It

was hard for anyone to grasp, particularly our family. My father claimed that he had made some
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decisions that he was still trying to figure out. My mother waited because she truly wanted our

family to be reunited. She desired something concrete before making any long-term plans. I

didn't expect it to last long. Time flew by fast and what we had assumed was short-lived became

a permanent fixture in our lives. Mum, I realized, had been longing to return to the familiar,

hoping it was only around the corner, like the man in the picture. She was afraid of resigning to

fate, accepting that dad was gone. We were all left with haunting feelings of rejection. I felt like I

was walking through an inferno during that dreadful period of uncertainty and waiting in my life.

I yearned for solidity, normalcy, and predictability, but they never came. We have learned

to take this new path, bent and twisty as it is.I can relate with this image from the perspective of

the subject’s apprehension about taking a leap of faith into the future. I frequently hear

individuals speak about the value of living in the present moment and the various ways that

doing so will benefit us. All of this sounds practical and wonderful, especially when it

involves the lower levels of stress and anxiety, but I have never quite mastered the art of living in

the now, with my mind perpetually stressing about the past or looking towards the future.

Uncertainty is a natural and unavoidable element of life, despite the fact that we may not

want to accept it. There is very little that is permanent or completely definite in our lives, and

while we have some control over many aspects of our life, we cannot control everything that

happens to us. As the coronavirus pandemic illustrated, life may alter in an instant and in an

unpredictably unpredictable manner. Things could be going swimmingly one day, and the next

you could find yourself suddenly ill, out of work, or struggling to put food on the table or

provide for your family. Many of us use worrying as a coping mechanism to deal with all of the

uncertainty by attempting to forecast the future and avoid unpleasant shocks. Having a fearful

attitude can provide the impression that you have some control over a difficult situation. You
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may believe that it will assist you in identifying a solution to your difficulties or that it will

prepare you for the worst case scenario. It's possible that if you fret over a problem for long

enough, think over every alternative, or read every viewpoint available on the internet; you will

come up with a solution and be in control of the outcome. Sadly, none of this is effective at all.

Constant worrying will not offer you any more control over unpredictable occurrences; instead, it

will deprive you of happiness in the present, deplete your energy, and keep you awake at night.

However, there are more healthy methods to deal with uncertainty, and the first step is to change

your perspective on the situation.

It is important to understand that life is a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs.

One can choose to embrace life’s challenges and joys and try to enjoy the journey, happily

learning from their experiences along the way; or one can choose to resist the challenges and

hate every step on their path. The latter prevents a person from experiencing any growth or

progress, while the former offers an opportunity for a person to learn from their struggles and

become a better person as a result of their experiences.