Do you ever feel like you’re just winging it? Like you’re one step away from someone pulling the curtain back and revealing you, the impostor who has no idea what they’re doing? Well, here’s a little secret: almost everyone feels this way.
It’s funny, isn’t it? We grow up with this illusion that adults have it all figured out. When we were kids, the grown-ups in our lives seemed like these all-knowing beings. They knew how to fix a broken faucet, make big life decisions, and navigate the complexities of relationships. But as you step into adulthood, you realize it was all just a mirage. Most people are fumbling through life just like we are. The truth? Only about 1-2% of people seem to truly know what they’re doing. The rest of us are trying to make it up as we go along.
Comforting or Unsettling?
This universal uncertainty is both comforting and liberating. On one hand, it’s nice to know that you’re not alone in your confusion. On the other hand, it makes you wonder: how does anything in the world actually function? How do we build skyscrapers, run governments, or even manage to keep a household running?
The 1-2% who seem to have it all together, the ones who plan every move and execute it flawlessly, often feel like unicorns. They’re out there, sure, but they’re rare. And even they probably have moments of doubt that we don’t see. Maybe what sets them apart isn’t that they have all the answers, but that they’re comfortable with the questions. They lean into uncertainty with the kind of confidence that makes the rest of us believe they have it all figured out.
For the rest of us, it’s trial and error. We’re learning on the fly, making mistakes, and hoping no one notices. We’re googling recipes ten minutes before dinner, googling “how to write a professional email” five minutes before a big meeting, or googling “how to not look awkward at a party” while sitting in our car in the driveway. (Honestly, where would we be without Google?)
But maybe the beauty of life is in this not-knowing. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” If we had all the answers, what would there be to discover? The uncertainty, the improvisation—that’s where growth happens. It’s in the moments of “I have no idea what I’m doing” that we often stumble upon the best parts of life.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So if you’re feeling lost or out of your depth, take heart. You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not failing. You’re just living and figuring it out one step at a time. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll look back and realize that the not-knowing was the best part of all.
For now, let’s acknowledge the uncertainty with honesty. It can be unsettling, even anxiety-inducing at times, and we might find ourselves leaning on distractions or the company of others to cope. But that’s okay. These moments of doubt are part of being human, and they remind us that we’re all in this together, figuring it out as we go.
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