WHAT IS GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY & HOW TO COPE WITH IT

Feeling overwhelmed by global uncertainty? You’re not alone.

In a world filled with climate change, economic instability, political conflict, & health crises, it’s no surprise that many of us are feeling anxious, stuck in “what if” thinking, and constantly bracing for impact. The truth is, uncertainty is a normal part of life, but our minds often convince us that we MUST have answers, control, or guarantees to feel safe.
But here’s the catch: seeking certainty doesn’t actually give us more control, it just fuels more anxiety.

The uncertainty often triggers cognitive distortions, such as:
🔸Catastrophising - “The world is falling apart, and I won’t cope.”
🔸Fortune-telling - “Everything is going to get worse.”
🔸Black-and-white thinking - “If I don’t know the outcome, it’s going to be bad.”
 
People often OVERESTIMATE the NEED FOR CERTAINTY in order TO FEEL SAFE, this can lead to checking the news obsessively, needing constant reassurance, or imagining worst-case scenarios.

Your brain is TRYING TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY the only way it knows how: by worrying. But worry doesn’t prevent bad things from happening, it just drains your energy and robs you of the present.
 
So, how do we cope?
That’s where the APPLE technique comes in a simple, powerful CBT-based tool to help you tolerate uncertainty without spiraling:

A - AWARE
P - PAUSE
P - PULL BACK
L - LET GO
E - EXPLORE

By using APPLE, you’re not ignoring the uncertainty you’re LEARNING TO SIT WITH IT, without letting it run your life.

Let this be your reminder: you don’t need all the answers to keep going. You just need the tools to stay present when your mind demands certainty.

You can’t control the storm, but you can anchor yourself through it.