Uncertainty can be tough. Period. No amount of platitudes or sayings can change it. It can be a gift in that sometimes we don’t want to know. We want to stay in a state where everything is comfortable, and nothing changes. It’s not real, and we know it, but for now, it’s safe. It can be a curse as we dread what comes next, not knowing whether we’re ready for it. If it will destroy everything or if we can rise above whatever it is.

Many of us, I dare say most of us, don’t like uncertainty. Myself included. However, I know people who embrace uncertainty in a way that has, until recently, made no sense to me. They look at uncertainty with hope. They hold onto the thought that while we don’t know what’s going to happen, there is a chance that it will be good, and they hold that energy until the unknown becomes known. The other thing they do is to keep their hopeful attitude even after the unknown turns out not to be so good. They are the “silver lining” people. Those who firmly believe that every cloud has a silver lining. I have traditionally been one who believed that every silver lining had a cloud. This line of belief has wreaked havoc in my life for more years than I care to admit. I’ve since given it up. I’m not a silver-lining person yet, but I’m getting there.

What my friends have taught me is the power of attitude and perspective.

When I think back to when I was a kid, I remember being optimistic. I hadn’t noticed when that changed. Optimism is not just for innocent, naive kids. It’s for everyone. The underlying energy can change your life if you allow it. Regarding energy, being positive is keeping your vibration as high as possible. Projecting positive vibrations allows you to receive the same.

Recently, we got a diagnosis of breast cancer in my family. That is the mother of all uncertainty if ever there was one. It wasn’t long ago that you were done once your medical file was stamped with the C word. That was the first thought that ran through everyone’s head when we got the news. The first thing out of my mouth was to remind everyone it was caught early and that there were lots of people running around living happy C-free lives. I know two of them who have spoken with me about their experiences and who have given me invaluable insight and encouragement throughout this process.

The main lesson I got from both of them is to stay positive. It seems trite, but it really isn’t. Regardless of what happens, I remind myself to keep an open mind and expect the best possible outcome. Even if it was not so good, I was already mentally, emotionally, and physically in a better position to handle what was next. There is nothing worse than getting kicked when you’re already down. If you hold yourself up as much as you can, it helps in case the hits keep on coming.

Nothing lasts forever, not the good and certainly not the bad. The best way to get through our challenges is to keep a positive attitude as much as possible. There are days when even the most sparkling of us lose their shine a bit, and that’s okay. No one is asking or expecting perfection. What we’re looking at is a general sense of optimism and hope. You can do it for a day, an hour, or ten minutes. It doesn’t matter. As long as you can look at the bright side of things most of the time, you will keep your vibration high and better handle whatever comes next, even if you don’t know what that is. By having as positive an outlook as you can manage, uncertainty becomes neither a gift nor a curse; it’s just life.