The Antidote To Fear Of Uncertainty
Two thousand twenty was an exhausting year, both on and off the internet. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social, economic and political instability, pushed many of us into a state of mental exhaustion.
Ever since the first lockdown was announced, I was cornered into self-introspection and started compulsively questioning what mattered in life. It was insightful at first but as the time passed by, this compulsive thinking became a big source of anxiety. I started feeling crippled by worrying about circumstances and happenings which are not under my control.
My father often tells me a story when I stress about situations I cannot control. Once upon a time, there lived a farmer who owned a beautiful horse. One morning he woke up to find that his horse had ran away into the jungle. As the news spread, the entire village gathered at the farmer's house to share his sorrows. "It is really unfortunate", one of the villagers said. "Maybe," replied the farmer. The next week, the farmer's horse returned and brought with it, five new wild horses. "It's a miracle! You are so fortunate!" the villagers exclaimed. The farmer once again said, "Maybe." The following day, while riding one of the new horses, the farmer's son fell down and broke his leg. The neighbours came to his house to pray for his son's recovery. They said, "We are so sorry for you. That's too bad." "Maybe," replied the farmer. While the farmer's son was still recovering from his broken leg, a group of army recruiters came to the village to conscript young and healthy men to serve. They spared the farmer's son because he had a broken leg. "Isn't that great?" said the villagers. "Maybe."
I could not go to university or continue with my job as the industries were closed. The lockdown restrictions meant that I could not meet my friends. After multiple such episodes over the past year, that day, I took a rather bold and courageous step towards the future. I decided to embrace what I think is the most difficult thing to love — one's own fate.
Friedrich Nietzsche proposed the term "Amor Fati" (Latin) which translates to love of one's fate, it is not just about accepting one's fate but embracing it, treating adverse circumstances as utterly necessary for our development and essential for becoming mentally strong. In the wise words of Marcus Aurelius (the Roman emperor and philosopher), it's the embracing of things that happen to us that makes the difference between our thriving or just surviving.
Aurelius believed that everything you throw into the fire is the fuel for the fire, this simply means that one should treat everything that happens in life as it is a fuel for one's growth and potential.
Unfortunately, in most cases we are ingrained to do the contrary. We regret, lament and worry about the twists and turns of fate. Wishing that things would have been different. It is one of the most difficult thing in life. To develop an all-embracing, enthusiastic acceptance of one's fate.
Unconditionally accepting both the good and bad.
Amor Fati 🧘♂️