Impermanence and Uncertainty: I Don't Know Where Tomorrow Will Take Me

[DISCLAIMER]

On the album Freakjet (2022), rapper Vel Nine (also known as Vel the Wonder) released the song “Winning Team” that featured rapper YL. Wisely, Vel Nine stated, “I don’t know where tomorrow will take me, but I know where today is.” This is a matter of uncertainty.

According to the American Psychological Association, uncertainty is defined as “the state or condition in which something (e.g., the probability of a particular outcome) is not accurately or precisely known” and “lack of confidence or clarity in one’s ideas, decisions, or intentions.”

A separate source succinctly states, “Uncertainty or incertitude refers to situations involving imperfect or unknown information.” Noteworthy, when providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I often refer to uncertainty and impermanence.

Per one source, “Impermanence first appears in Greek philosophy in the writings of Heraclitus and his doctrine of panta rhei (everything flows). Heraclitus was famous for his insistence on ever-present change as being the fundamental essence of the universe.”

In my personal and professional practice of REBT, I often use an adage relating to impermanence by stating, “This, too, shall pass.” As this relates to uncertainty, most people don’t know when the current moment (i.e., life) will expire. Ergo, an REBT tool is often useful.

Specifically, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Recall Vel Nine’s cited line, “I don’t know where tomorrow will take me, but I know where today is.” The matter of “tomorrow” involves one’s circle of concern—regarding ULA. For instance, I can imagine all sorts of events which may or may not unfold in the elusive future.

Yet, the one circle in which tomorrow ever unfolds is within the circle of concern—with life lived only in the present, as Vel Nine accurately regards this as “today.” Heraclitus stated “everything flows” and I prefer the adage “this, too, shall pass,” as time continuously flows.

I don’t know where will tomorrow will take me, or if I’ll even live to see the future transition into the present. Still, I know where today is, as I won’t focus too much of my attention on what may never transpire anyway. This is a matter of ULA, and I invite you to practice this tool daily.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

References:

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